DATE  DUE 

UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY 

OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

AT 

AMHERST 

i 

F 

74 

W7 

P36 

THE 

History  of  Wilbraham 

MASSACHUSETTS 


Prepared  in  Connection  with  the 
Celebration  of  the 


One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary 

oj  the 
Incorporation  of  the  Town 


JUNE  15,  1913 


By 

CHAUNCEY  E.  PECK 


9  7S- 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERS  TY  OF 
MASSACHUSETTS 

AMHERST,  MASS. 


PREFACE 

k 

i      The  fact  that  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
'  incorporation  of  Wilbraham  was  approaching,  was  brought  to 

th    attention  of  the  town  at  the  annual  meeting  held  in  1911, 

b^   che  following  article  in  the  warrant: 

.'•i.rt.  17.  "To  see  if  the  town  will  take  any  action  in  regard 
to  the  celebration  of  its  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary 
'  ;  1913."    Under  this  article  the  following  votes  were  passed. 

"Voted  that  the  town  celebrate  the  One  Hundred  and 
L  iftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Incorporation  of  the  Town." 

"Voted  that  a  committee  of  five  be  chosen  to  make  all 
arrangements  for  the  celebration,  with  power  to  act,  and  that 
they  report  at  the  next  annual  meeting  the  result  of  the  progress 
made." 

The  following  committee  was  chosen: 

Chauncey  E.  Peck,  chairman 
Charles  C.  Beebe,  Ethelbert  Bliss, 

Benj.  F.  Greene,  Miss  Evanore  O.  Beebe. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Historical  Committee,  held  soon  after- 
wards, Chauncey  E.  Peck  was  chosen  historian,  and  Miss 
Evanore  O.  Beebe  secretary.  At  the  annual  town  meeting  in 
1912,  a  report  of  the  progress  made  was  given  by  the  chairman, 
and  the  town  voted  to  instruct  the  committee  to  publish  an 
illustrated  history  of  the  town. 

Many  meetings  were  held  by  the  Historical  Committee,  and 
many  sub-committees  were  appointed  to  arrange  different 
details  of  the  program  for  the  celebration.  All  of  which  were 
carried  out  in  a  manner  creditable  to  those  who  had  arranged 
them,  as  will  appear  from  reading  the  newspaper  accounts  of 
the  celebration. 

The  actual  day  of  the  signing  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation  was 
on  Jane  15th,  but  as  that  day  came  on  Sunday  in  1913,  it  was 
decided  to  begin  the  three  days'  celebration  on  Tuesday,  June 
17th.  The  first  day's  exercises,  including  the  Historical 
Address,  to  be  held  at  the  centre  village,  the  second  day  at 


iv  Preface 

North  Wilbraham,  to  include  the  dedication  of  the  Public 
Library,  and  the  third  day  at  Glendale,  with  the  unveiling  of 
the  Soldiers'  Boulder  there.  All  of  the  exercises  were  largely 
attended  and  were  a  complete  success  in  every  way  The 
spacious  audience  room  in  the  M.  E.  Church  was  well  filled  on 
June  17th,  and  the  exercises  occupied  a  little  more  than  two 
hours,  including  singing  by  the  school  children  of  three  selec- 
tions, among  which  was  "The  Elegy  of  the  Mountains,"  begin- 
ning— 

"On  Springfield  mountains  there  did  dwell 
A  likely  youth  who  was  knowne  full  well." 

This  was  "lined  off"  according  to  the  old  style,  by  Harold 
BoUes,  and  sung  to  the  tune  of  "Old  Hundred." 

The  Vital  Records  of  Wilbraham — Births,  Marriages  and 
Deaths — will  soon  be  printed  in  a  separate  volume,  and  so, 
none  of  the  genealogies  of  families  are  included  here. 

I  have  just  learned  that  there  is  a  tin  box  in  the  town  safe, 
sealed  up  and  marked,  "Not  to  be  opened  until  June  15th, 
1963."  I  mention  it  here,  so  that  the  future  historian  may 
know  of  its  existence. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  historical  account  of  the  different 
events  which  have  happened  here,  and  of  the  work  wrought  by 
our  ancestors  in  the  days  long  past,  as  well  as  that  which  has 
been  accomplished  in  recent  years,  I  have  endeavored  to  relate 
the  incidents  in  the  order  in  which  they  occurred.  And,  so  far 
as  practicable,  to  complete  each  account  before  beginning 
another.  The  great  amount  of  time  consumed  in  looking  up 
facts  contained  in  the  records  of  the  town,  the  parishes  and  the 
churches,  as  well  as  records  outside  of  the  town,  will  account 
for  the  time  which  has  passed  since  the  address  was  delivered. 

Only  about  one-tenth  of  the  "History,"  as  here  printed,  was 
delivered  in  the  address. 

I  place  my  more  than  two  years'  work  in  your  hands,  trusting 
it  may  meet  with  your  approbation. 

CHAUNCEY  E.  PECK. 

Wilbraham,  October  1,  1914. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Pages  1  to  24 

Introduction.     Emigration  from  England.     Journey  to  Con- 
necticut River.    Deed  of  Part  of  Outward  Commons,  Allotment 
of,  Measuring  Width  of.     Roger  Newbury's  Surv^ey.     Indians. 
Pages  24  to  44 

First  Settlers  in  Wilbraham.  "Clark"  Warner  Record. 
First  Deaths  and  Burials.  School  in  Outward  Commons. 
Peggy's  Dipping  Hole.  The  Way  to  Zion  by  Way  of  Springfield. 
Population  of,  1741.  First  Precinct  Meeting.  Deed  of  Over- 
plus Land  to  Minister,  Fixing  His  Salary,  Ordination  of. 
Pages  46  to  67 

First  Page  of  Minister's  Record.    Location  of  Meetinghouse. 
Building   Minister's   House.      The   Parson's   Rose.      Materials 
for  Meetinghouse,  First  Use  of,  First  Baptism  in.    First  Action 
to  be  Set  Off  as  a  Town.     Meetinghouse  Lane. 
Pages  68  to  77 

Seating  of  Meetinghouse  Recorded  1760.  Ministry  and 
School  Lots.  Trouble  in  the  Church,  1754.  First  Schoolhouse. 
"Master"  Ezra  Barker.  Road  Laid  from  Goose  Pond  to 
Outward  Commons.  "World's  End  Brook."  Kilborn's 
Bridge.  Ensign  Abel  Bliss,  House  of,  Indian  Boy  at. 
Pages  78  to  100 

First  Settlers  in  South  Part.  Lieut.  Thomas  Merrick. 
Timothy  Mirrick,  Bitten  by  Rattlesnake,  Ode  on,  House  of, 
Epitaph,  Place  of  Burial.  Soldiers  in  French  War.  Journal 
of  "Clark"  Samuel  Warner.  Second  and  Third  Attempts  to 
be  Set  Off  as  a  Town.  Act  of  Incorporation.  Origin  of  Name. 
"Wil-bra-ham,  not  A-bra-ham."  Population  of.  School 
Districts. 

Pages  101  to  116 

Singing  in  Church.  Mr.  Merrick's  Salary,  His  Health  Fail- 
ing, Death  of,  His  Accoimt  Book,  Ancestry  of.  Mrs.  Abigail 
Merrick.  No  Settled  Minister  in  North  Parish  For  Eleven 
Years.  Preaching  in  the  South  Part  Refused.  South  Parish 
Set  Off.  Will  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner.  Valuation  of 
Wilbraham  in  1771. 

Pages  117  to  142 

The  Revolutionary  War,  Cause  of.  Appeal  from  Merchants 
of  Boston.  Non-consumption  Report.  Tories  in  Town. 
"Minute  Men."  Lexington  Alarm.  Depreciated  Money. 
Council  Refuses  to  Ordain  Samuel  Ely  as  a  Minister.     The 


vi  Table  of  Contents 

Shays'  Rebellion.  Anecdote  about  Deacon  Warriner  House. 
Journal  of  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick.  Soldiers  in  Revolutionary 
War. 

Pages  142  to  160 

The  Green,  Petition  to  Set  Off.  Library.  The  Old  Hoe — an 
Epigram.  Copy  From  Papers  of  John  Bliss,  Esq.  First 
Church  History  from  1794.  Moving  Meetinghouse  to  Present 
Location.  Meeting  of  Parish  Called  to  Meet  in  Methodist 
Meetinghouse.  Sermon  of  Rev.  Joseph  Lathrop,  D.D.  Church 
Bell  Purchased.  Fencing  Burying  Yards. 
Pages  160  to  182 

"Minister  Money."  Record  from  Supreme  Court.  Parish 
Loan.  Seating  of  the  Meetinghouse,  Twenty-seven  Children 
Baptised  at  One  Service.  Nine  Mile  Pond  Tragedy,  Odes  on. 
Epitaphs  of  Those  Drowned.  Lease  of  Pond  by  The  Town. 
Bungalows  Erected. 

Pages  182  to  200 

The  Marcus  Lyon  Murder,  Account  Published  in  Massa- 
chusetts Spy  of  Worcester,  Execution  of  Murderers.  First 
Methodist  Society,  Charles  Brewer,  Lease  of  Land,  One  Pepper 
Corn.  Bishop  Asbury.  New  England  Methodist  Conference, 
Petition  for  Incorporation,  Objections  to.  Camp  Meeting, 
First  Legal  Meeting  of  Society,  Bequest  of  Moses  K.  Bartlett, 
Sale  of  the  Old  House,  Slips  Owned  by  Individuals,  One  of 
Them  Attached  to  Pay  a  Debt.  Poem  on  Old  Church. 
Pages  201  to  212 

Baptist  Church  at  Colton  Hollow,  Gathering  of.  Council  to 
Establish,  Hear  a  Complaint,  Church  Covenant  Signed  by. 
Ministers  Who  Belong  to  or  Attend  the  Masonic  Lodge. 
Complaint  of  Oliver  Bliss  Against  Bro.  Asa  Beebe.  Other 
Complaints.  Move  to  South  Wilbraham.  Petitions  for 
Incorporation  of  Other  Societies. 

Pages  212  to  232 

Militia,  Training  Day.  Railroads,  First  Railroad  Station, 
Moved  to  Oak  Street.  First  Station  at  North  Wilbraham. 
Wilbraham  Aqueduct  Company.  Wilbraham  Academy, 
Catalogue  for  1836,  Location  of.  Town  Loan  and  Surplus 
Revenue. 

Pages  233  to  260 

Millerite  Excitement.  Doctor  Bottom  Sees  Woman  up  in 
Tree.  Sermon  Preached  on  "The  False  Alarm."  The  Civil 
War.  Troubles  in  Kansas,  Wilbraham  Man  There,  Men 
Furnished,    Money   For,    Return   of   the   Standards,    Personal 


Table  of  Contents  vii 

Experiences  in,  Men  in,  Men  Drafted.     Soldiers'  Monument, 
Donor  of.    Crane  Park. 

Pages  261  to  276 

The  Great  Washout  on  B.  &  A.  R.  R.  in  1869.  Business  of 
the  Town  in  1837.  Woolen  Mill  at  South  Wilbraham,  on 
Eleven  Mile  Brook.  The  Collins  Mfg.  Co.  The  Cutler  Co. 
Ludlow  Mfg.  Co.  Tobacco.  Cheese  Factories.  Sheep. 
Peach  Industry.  Increase  in  Valuation  of  Town  in  Thirty 
Years.  Items  from  Massachusetts  Register  1814.  Items  from 
''Clark"  Warner  record.  Almanac  for  1748. 
Pages  277  to  284 

First  Baptist  Church,  Society  Constituted,  Ordination  of 
Rev.  Seth  Clark,  Society  "Lost  its  Visibility,"  Meetinghouse 
Burned,  Location  of.  The  Glendale  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Methodist  Class  Formed,  Origin  of  Name,  Meeting- 
house Erected,  Incorporation.  Grace  Union  Church  at  North 
Wilbraham,  Meetings  in  Liberty  Hall,  Society  Incorporated. 
The  Christian  Union  Church.  Church  of  Saint  Cecilia. 
Pages  285  to  308 

The  Public  Schools,  Appropriations  From  Springfield,  First 
Schoolhouse,  Teachers  Boarding  Around,  Private,  Districts, 
Drawing,  Singing,  Flags,  Table  of  Expenses,  Graduating 
Exercises  1912.  List  of  Representatives.  Town  Clerks. 
Physicians.  Division  of  the  Town.  Memorial  Town  Hall. 
Electric  Railway.  Telephone.  California  Adventurers.  Cap- 
tain Kidd's  Gold.  Good  Templars.  Free  Masons.  Grange. 
Farmers  Club.  Literary  Society.  Dell  Cemetery. 
Pages  309  to  340 

Slavery.  Warner  Record.  Fragments.  Warner  Papers, 
His  "Dream."  Toll  Gate.  Wilbraham  Turnpike.  Strange 
Accident.  Disposal  of  Poor.  Kibbe's  Shirt.  Presbyterian 
Saddle.  Scenery  of  Wilbraham.  Celebration,  Newspaper 
Accounts  of.  The  Parade,  Dinner,  Speeches  of  Guests,  Singing, 
Address. 

Pages  341  to  360 

Close. of  Address.  Loan  Exhibit.  Second  Day  of  Celebra- 
tion, Dedication  of  Library,  Cantata,  Address  of  Librarian 
Wilcox,  Prof.  J.  T.  Bowne,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  R.  Newhall,  Loan 
Exhibit.  Third  Day  of  Celebration,  Boulder  Unveiled,  Wm.  R. 
Sessions,  Dr.  Marshall  Calkins,  Speakers,  Anti-Slavery  Demon- 
stration, Exhibition  of  Antiques.  Farms  and  Homes  of  Wil- 
braham. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Town  Crier, 

Anniversary  Committee, 

Old  Boundary  Stone, 

Soapstone  Boulder,  . 

Indian  Fireplace, 

First  Page  of  "Clark"  Warner  Record, 

First  Page  of  Minister's  Record,    . 

House  of  Isaac  Brewer,    . 

View  From  the  Mountain, 

Schoolhouse  of  the  Old  Time, 

Old  Merrick  House, 

Present  Merrick  House,  . 

Powder  Horn, 

Schoolhouse  on  "The  Green," 

Levi  Bliss  House,      .... 

Congregational  Churches,  Burned, 

First  Methodist  Meeting  House,    . 

Brewer  Inn  Sign, 

Four  Collins  Family  Portraits, 

First  Station  at  North  Wilbraham, 

Academy  Rich  Hall  and  Headmaster's  House, 

View  Across  the  Campus  from  Gymnasium, 

Bridge  over  Chicopee  River,  . 

Spencer  Carbine  and  Sabre  Hilt,   .     •  . 

Soldiers'  Monument,        .... 

Foskit  Home, 

Train  Passing  over  Trestle  after  Washout, 
Cutler  Company  Mill,     .... 

Peach  Orchard, 

Clover  Mowing  and  Barn, 
Glendale  Church  and  Cemetery,    . 
Grace  Union  Church,       .... 
Christian  Union  Church, 
Church  of  Saint  Cecilia, 
School  Children,  in  Costume, 

Grange  Hall, 

Stage  Receipt, 

View  from  Mountain,  Westerly,    . 
View  from  Mountain,  Northwesterly,  . 
One  of  the  Floats, 


292 


Page 

XII 
XIV 

10 
23 
25 

28 
46 
49 
64 
73 
80 
85 
141 
142 
164 
169 
191 
192 
217 
218 
222 
227 
232 
251 
258 
260 
263 
267 
271 
271 
280 
282 
284 
285 
-293 
306 
317 
326 
327 
333 


List  of  Illustrations 


IX 


One  of  the  Floats,     . 

One  of  the  Floats,     . 

Memorial  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

Cutler  Public  Library,     . 

Henry  Cutler,  Portrait,   . 

Unveiling  Boulder,   . 

Soldiers'  Boulder  at  Glendale, 

Dr.  Marshall  Calkins, 

Anti-slavery  Demonstration, 

Maplehurst,       .... 

Maplehurst,  Interior, 

Maplehurst,  Interior, 

Selectmen  of  Wilbraham, 

Congregational  Church,  . 

Rev.  Martin  S.  and  Mrs.  Howard 

The  Merrick  Elm,    . 

Home  of  Clarence  M.  Ripley, 

The  "Mile  Tree,"     . 

Home  of  Ethelbert  Bliss, 

View  of  Main  Street, 

Ira  G.  Potter,    .... 

Home  of  Chauncey  E.  Peck, 

Home  of  Fred  W.  Green, 

The  Nelson  Mowry  Homestead, 

Home  of  William  G.  Rogers, 

Robert  R.  Wright,    . 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathan  C.  Rice, 

Mrs.  Nancy  (Bliss)  Rice, 

Home  of  Mrs.  Sarah  (Bliss)  Gillet, 

Old  Homestead  of  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Merrill, 

Rev.  Nathaniel  J.  Merrill, 

Home  of  Annis  Merrill,   . 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  8,  . 

Embryo  Pine  Forest, 

Homestead  of  Francis  E.  Clark, 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  1,  . 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  2,  "The  Pines 

The  First  Bungalow  in  Wilbraham, 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  5,  . 

A  Rare  Scene,   .... 

Home  of  Mrs.  Leola  B.  Edson, 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  7,  . 

Home  of  Allyn  M.  Seaver, 


Page 
335 
338 
340 
343 
345 
350 
350 
352 
353 
354 
356 
357 
359 
361 
363 
365 
366 
371 
375 
376 
378 
378 
380 
383 
384 
385 
388 
389 
390 
392 
393 
394 
395 
397 
398 
400 
405 
408 
409 
411 
412 
413 
415 


List  of  Illustrations 


Page 

View  Showing  One  of  the  Industries  in  which  Mr.  Seaver 

is  interested, 415 

Home  of  H.  H.  Graves, 417 

"Brookmont," 418 

"The  Century  Homestead," 420 

The  Rindge  Oak, 421 

Rev.  Charies  H.  Gates, 422 

Wilbraham  Woolen  Company's  Mill, 424 

Homestead  of  Levi  Ruggles  Bliss,         .        .        .        .    •    .  426 

Auto  Inn, 427 

Home  of  Ernest  L.  Thompson, 430 

Home  of  Mrs.  Lizzie  (Collins)  Warren,        .        .  .431 

Present  Railroad  Station  at  North  Wilbraham,          .  431 

Store  of  Nelson  I.  Bradway, 432 

ColHns  Inn, 433 

Home  of  Frank  A.  Fuller, 434 

The  Baldwin  Maple,        .        .        .       • 435 

Erasmus  B.  Gates, 437 

Home  of  Mrs.  Harriet  (Kent)  Gates, •  437 

The  Colonel  Butler  Homestead, 439 

Jason  Butler, '       .  440 

Home  of  James  S.  Morgan, 441 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  6, 442 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  4, 447 

Home  of  Luther  L.  Farr, 451 

Birthplace  of  Dr.  Marshall  Calkins  and  Dr.  David  Calkins,  452 

Home  of  Randolph  Beebe, 454 

Portrait,  Town  Clerk, 458 

Newbury  Compass, 459 

Memorial  Town  Hall,  As  Planned, 460 


List  of  Illustrations 


Page 

View  Showing  One  of  the  Industries  in  which  Mr.  Seaver 

is  interested, 415 

Home  of  H.  H.  Graves, 417 

''Brookmont," 418 

''The  Century  Homestead," 420 

The  Rindge  Oak, 421 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Gates, 422 

Wilbraham  Woolen  Company's  Mill, 424 

Homestead  of  Levi  Ruggles  I31iss,         .        .        .        .        .  426 

Auto  Inn, 427 

Home  of  Ernest  L.  Thompson, 430 

Home  of  Mrs.  Lizzie  (Collins)  Warren,        ....  431 
Present  Railroad  Station  at  North  Wilbraham,          .        .431 

Store  of  Nelson  I.  Brad  way, 432 

Collins  Inn, 433 

Home  of  Frank  A.  Fuller, 434 

The  Baldwin  Maple,        .        .        .       • 435 

Erasmus  B.  Gates, 437 

Home  of  Mrs.  Harriet  (Kent)  Gates, •  437 

The  Colonel  Butler  Homestead, 439 

Jason  Butler, '       .  440 

Home  of  James  S.  Morgan, 441 

Schoolhouse,  District  No.  6, 442 

Schoolhouse,  Di-strict  No.  4, 447 

Home  of  Luther  L.  Farr, 451 

Birthplace  of  Dr.  Marshall  Calkins  and  Dr.  David  Calkins,  452 

Home  of  Randolph  Beebe, 454 

Portrait,  Town  Clerk, 458 

Newbury  Compass, 459 

Memorial  Town  Hall,  As  Planned, 460 


HEAR  YM     HEAR  YM 
ALL  Y^  GOOD  PEOPLE 


CHILDREN  OF  DEAR  WILBRAHAM, 
GATHER  HOME,  ALL  WHO  CAN. 

MOTHER  CALLS,  "COME  YE  HERE! 
THIS  IS  MY  BIRTHDAY  YEAR." 


1913 


"Town  Crier,  "  Anson  Soule,  6  ft.  3  ins.  tall; 
weight,  240  pounds;  age,  83  years. 


Charles  C.  Beebe.  Benjamin  F.  Greene. 

ANNIVERSARY  COMMITTEE. 


HISTORICAL    ADDRESS 

Mr.  President, 

Sons  and  Daughters,  Dear  Mother  Springfield, 
Good  Daughter  Hampden,  Friends  and  Neighbors  of 

WILBRAHAM 

"What  is  there  to  be  seen 
On  the  Wilbraham  hills  of  green, 
And  what  do  you  hear,  and  is  it  in  your  way? 
I  hear  my  mother  call. 
To  her  children  one  and  all. 
And  I  see  the  children  coming  through  all  this 
summer  day."^ 

We  have  gathered  on  this  anniversary  occasion  to  recall  the 
distant  days  of  our  ancestors.  To  re-tell  the  story  of  their 
struggles  and  their  triumphs,  and  to  gain  such  inspiration  as 
we  can,  to  carry  on  the  work  which  they  commenced  here,  and 
have  now  left  for  us  to  do.  In  a  general  way,  to  make  ourselves 
better,  to  make  Wilbraham  better,  and  so,  help  to  make  the 
world  better. 

It  is  an  interesting  subject  we  have  to  consider,  and  the 
fascination  of  it  grows  upon  one,  the  longer  we  study  it. 

I  shall  try  to  tell  the  story,  so  far  as  I  can,  in  the  order  in 
which  the  events  happened,  and  shall  quote  from  the  address 
of  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick,  delivered  here  in  the  old  First 
Church  on  "Election  Day,"  May,  1831,  and  from  the  Stebbins 
History  of  1863. 

When  we  try  to  realize  the  great  length  of  time  which  some 
portions  of  the  world  have  been  occupied  by  civilized  people, 
we  are  astonished  at  the  progress  which  has  been  made  in  this 
New  World,  in  less  than  three  hundred  years.  In  the  year  1630, 
seventeen  ships  sailed  from  England's  shore,  bringing  1600 
passengers,  to  this,  then  almost  unbroken  wilderness. 

Those  sixteen  hundred  people  were  not  the  first,  but  they 
were  among  the  best  that  ever  came.     "Among  them,  John 


1  From  poem  by  Mrs.  Jennie  Tupper  Dowe. 


2  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Winthrop  and  his  friend,  William  Pynchon,  bringing  the 
Charter  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  both  patentees, 
Winthrop  governor,  Pynchon  assistant.  They  reinforce  the 
company  already  there  and  rapidly  increasing;  bold,  hardy, 
resolute  men;  brave,  gentle,  patient  women.  They  settle  in 
Roxbury,  Newton,  Dorchester,  Watertown."  Pynchon  had 
lived  in  Roxbury  scarce  a  year,  when  three  Indian  Sachems 
came  from  the  valley  of  the  fair  Connecticut  River.  They 
bring  rich  furs  of  beaver,  otter,  fox,  wolf,  and  mink.  They  tell 
of  their  great  river,  fertile  meadows,  the  salmon,  bass,  shad  and 
sturgeon.  John  Cable  and  John  Woodcock  go  to  explore. 
They  bring  back  a  good  report.  William  Pynchon  himself 
explores.  The  western  fever  grows,  and  while  the  people  of  the 
Bay  protest,  the  boldest  spirits,  most  enterprising,  the  very 
elect,  prepare  to  go. — The  Roxbury  people  will  follow  Pynchon 
to  Agawam.  There  is  romance  in  those  paths.  The  leave- 
takings  with  old  neighbors,  the  Indian  trail  through  dim  old 
woods  and  boggy  meadows,  the  river  fords,  the  ringing  axes, 
the  camp  fires  under  lofty  pines  or  by  some  gurgling  brook,  the 
feebler  women  borne  on  litters,  the  little  children  lulled  to  sleep 
upon  their  hemlock  beds  by  the  soughing  of  the  wind  among  the 
tree  tops,  frightened  by  the  screeching  owls,  the  howling  wolves, 
or  the  painted  Indian.  The  procession  of  lowing  cattle,  the 
shouting  boys,  the  pack  horses,  the  armed  men  with  trusty 
match-locks  on  their  shoulders;  and  at  morn  and  night  the 
wayfarers  gather  about  the  pastor  while  the  psalms  are  read 
and  the  prayers  are  said. 

"And  they  shook  the  depths  of  the  forest  gloom. 
With  their  hymns  of  lofty  cheer." 

In  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick's  address,  delivered  in  Wilbraham, 
May,  1831  (after  about  50  words  of  introduction)  he  says,  "As 
the  first  settlement  here  took  place  but  about  twenty  years 
before  the  speaker  was  bom,  and  he  having  conversed  famil- 
iarly with  the  first  settlers,  and  living  here  almost  eighty  years, 
he  has  been  invited  to  communicate  some  of  his  recollections  of 
past    events."      Speaking   of   the   journey    from    Roxbury    to 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  3 

Springfield,  Dr.  Merrick  says,  "They  accordingly  took  their 
march  with  their  wives  and  their  little  ones,  their  flocks  and 
their  herds,  and  all  that  they  had  and  entered  the  howling 
wilderness,  where  nothing  dwelt  but  beasts  of  prey  and  men 
more  savage  far  than  they.  And  after  encountering  innu- 
merable hardships,  in  three  weeks  they  arrived  at  their  destined 
place  of  abode,  without  being  attacked  by  the  savages  or  any 
other  material  injury.  The}^  then  took  up  four  towns  to  wit, 
Weathersfield,  Hartford,  Windsor  and  Springfield,  the  latter 
from  Roxbury." 

On  the  first  of  May,  1636,  277  years  ago,  William  Pynchon 
starts  with  his  Roxbury  neighbors  by  the  old  bay  path  to 
Agawam. 

Their  bulkier  goods  have  already  gone  by  water  in  John 
Winthrop's  shallop,  the  Blessing  of  the  Bay.  "Learned,  gifted, 
wealthy,  devout,  every  way  qualified  for  leadership,  Pynchon 
becomes  the  father  of  Springfield,  as  he  had  been  the  father  of 
Roxbury."  "On  July  15th,  1636  a  treaty  of  purchase  was 
made  with  the  Indians,  the  conveyance  bearing  the  names  or 
symbols  of  thirteen  chiefs  and  sachems.  The  grantees  named 
were  William  Pynchon,  Henry  Smith  and  Jehu  Burr  and  their 
associates."  About  the  same  time  the  land  easterly  from  the 
Connecticut  River,  for  a  distance  of  about  five  miles,  or  to  Five 
Mile  Pond,  (near  the  present  Parker  Street)  was  purchased 
from  the  Indians,  by  William  Pynchon  and  his  associates  for 
the  inhabitants  of  Springfield.  In,  or  about  1674,  Elizur 
Holyoke  and  others  purchased  from  the  Indians  the  land  lying 
easterly  of  the  Pynchon  purchase,  to  the  mountains.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  Deed. 

Deed  of  part  of  the  outward  commons  (in  the  original  copy 
the  letter  u  is  sometimes  in  shape  like  the  letter  v,  which  error 
I  have  not  followed) : 

"Evidence  of  the  relinquishment  of  the  claim  of  the  Indians 
to  the  territory  west  of  the  mountains,  found  in  the  office  of 
Registry  of  Deeds  of  Hampden  County. 

"An  evidence  of  the  purchase  of  lands  at  Freshwater  River, 
taking  in  the  medowes  on  both  sides  the  River,  as  also  from  the 


4  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

lands  from  the  five  mile  pond  Eastward  to  y^  mountains  &  so 
northward  to  Chickuppe  River,  being  purchaes  fro  y^  Indians 
Wequaugan  Wawapaw  &  Wequampo:  by  &  for  y^  Town  of 
Springfield. 

"These  presents  testify  that  the  Indian  called  Wequagan, 
formerly  called  Wruthema  &  the  Indian  called  Wawapaw 
formerly  called  Norapompolom  in  consideration  of  the  sume  of 
One  Hundred  &  twenty  fathom  of  Wampam  to  them  in  hand 
paid,  And  that  the  Indian  called  Wequompo  in  consideration  of 
sixty  fathom  of  Wampam  to  him  in  hand  paid  Have  given 
granted  bargained  &  sold,  And  by  these  p'^sents  Doe  fully 
clearly  &  absolutely  give,  grante  bargain  &  sel  unto  Elizur 
Holyoke,  George  Coulton  Benjamin  Cooley,  Samuel  Marsh- 
field  &  Anthony  Dorchester,  for  the  use  &  behoofe  of  the  Town 
of  Springfield  certaine  tracts  of  Land  Upland  Medowes  and 
Swamps  hereafter  mentioned  &  described.  That  is  to  say,  the 
said  Wequagan  &  Wawapaw  first  acknowledging  that  their 
Ancesto''^  Did  sel  unto  M""  William  Pynchon  late  of  Spring- 
field, for  the  use  &  behoofe  of  the  said  Town  of  Springfield  a 
good  Portion  or  tracts  of  Land  lying  on  the  East  side  of  the 
River  Quinecticut  (&  by  the  said  River)  that  is  to  say,  by  the 
River,  along  from  the  lower  end  of  the  (medow,  called  by  the 
Indians  Massacksic  &  by  the  English  called  the)  Long  meadow 
up  to  Chickuppe  River.  And  in  breadth  Eastward  for  al  that 
Length  about  as  far  from  the  River  Quinecticut,  as  the  five  mile 
pond  w'^''  lyes  by  the  Bay  path ;  Concerning  w'^'*  Tract  of  Land 
the  said  Wequaugan  &  Wawapaw  Doe  for  themselves  &  their 
Successors,  for  the  use  &  behoofe  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Spring- 
field, forever  quit  al  right  Title  Interest  Claime  &  Demand  in 
&  to  al  the  said  Tract  of  Land  before  described.  And  the  Tract 
of  Land  w"^*^  the  said  Wequaugan  &  Wawapaw  Do  hereby  Sel 
as  aforesaid  Lyeth  partly  by  &  adjoineth  to  the  South  end  & 
East  side  of  the  Tract  of  Land  above  described  (w*^''  they 
acknowledg  was  sold  to  the  said  M""  William  Pynchon  as  afore- 
said) That  is  to  say,  All  the  Lands  w'^'^  lie  w">in  the  bounds 
hereafter  mentioned.  And  therefore  the  South  bounds  thereof, 
is  the  Riveret  called  by  the  Indians  Asnuntuel  (&  by  the  English 
Called  freshwater  River,  or  freshwater  brooke)  &  soe  from  the 
mouth  of  that  Riveret  vizt.  from  Connecticut  or  Quineciticut 
Riv""  the  bounds  Runs  up  the  said  Riveret  to  the  medows 
thereupon  &  from  thence  up  the  said  Riveret,  the  bounds  take 
in  al  the  medows  on  both  sides  of  freshwater  River  or  brookes 
that  Run  Into  it  to  the  upland  on  the  Southerly  side  of  such 
medows ;   &  at  the  Place  where  Freshwater  River  or  freshwater 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  5 

brooke  turns  Northerly,  the  south  bounds  extend  Eastward  to 
the  Riveret  called  Sean  tuck,  viz^  the  place  by  the  fals,  where 
the  path  that  leads  to  Pequit  or  Moheage  goes  over  that 
Riveret  &  fro  thence  the  s^  River  Seantucke  is  the  General 
bounds  of  the  Lands  contained  in  this  Purchase,  vizt.  up  to  the 
Place  where  the  said  River  or  Riveret  Seantuck  comes  down 
from  the  Mountaines,  yet  Al  the  medows  on  both  sides  of 
Seantuck  River,  are  likewise  contained  in  the  Purchase,  And 
from  the  Place  where  Seantuck  River  comes  down  from  the 
mountaines,  the  foot  of  the  mountaines  is  the  Easterly  bounds, 
up  as  far  Northerly  til  it  meet  with  the  Lands  purchased  of  the 
said  Wequompo:  &  the  West  bounds  or  border  are  the  Lands 
formerly  sold  to  m''  William  Pynchon  late  of  Springfield  as 
afores^  And  the  said  Wequagan  &  Wawapaw  Doe  for  y'^selves 
&  their  successor's  to  the  use  and  behoofe  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Springfield  for  Ever  quit  al  claime  to  &  al  right  title  &  Interest 
in  any  of  Lands  above  mentioned  &  hejeby  sold,  &  which  are 
contained  w"^in  the  bounds  abovementioned.  Except  liberty 
of  fishing  &  hunting,  which  they  Reserve  to  themselves,  yet 
not  to  damnify  the  English  thereby.  At  w'^'^  tract  of  Lands 
w*^*^  are  Contained  w^'in  the  bounds  above  mentioned,  together 
w"^  al  the  profit'  and  comoditys  thereupon  or  thereunto  belong- 
ing, the  said  Elizur  Holyoke,  George  Coulton,  Benjamin  Cooley, 
Samuel  Marshfield  &  Anthony  Dorchester  for  the  use  &  behoofe 
service  &  imploymen'  of  the  Towne  of  Springfield  (&  not  other- 
wise) are  to  have  hold  &  Enjoy  y ""selves  &  their  heires  for  Ever 
w'^out  let,  trouble  or  molestation  from  the  s''  Wequaugan 
Wawapaw  or  any  other:  And  the  tract  of  Land  hereby  sold  by 
Wequompo  are  such  as  are  contained  w'^in  the  bounds  & 
limits  hereafter  mentioned  &  Described,  That  is  to  say.  The 
South  bounds  thereof  are  the  lands  before  mentioned,  sold  by 
Wequaugan  &  Wawapaw;  And  Eastward  the  Foot  of  the 
mountaines  are  the  bounds  thereof;  &  Northerly  Chickuppe 
River  is  the  bounds  thereof;  And  the  Westerly  bounds  thereof 
are  the  lands  above  mentioned  form^y  sold  to  M""  William 
Pynchon  as  aforesaid.  At  w'^'"  Tract  of  Land  soe  bounded  & 
described  together  w'^  all  the  profits  &  comoditys  thereupon  or 
thereunto  belonging  the  said  Elizur  Holyoke,  George  Coulton, 
Benjamin  Cooley,  Samuel  Marshfield  &  Anthony  Dorchester 
for  the  use  &  behoofe,  service  &  Employm"^  of  the  Towne  of 
Springfield  &  not  otherwise,  are  to  have  hold  &  enjoy  for  them- 
selves &  their  heires  for  Ever,  w'^out  let  trouble  or  molestation 
from  the  said  Indian  called  Wequompo,  or  any  other:  And  the 
said  Wequompo  Doth  for  himselfe  &  his  successor's  for  the  use, 


6  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

behoofe  &  benefit  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Springfield  for  Ever 
quit  al  claim  to  &  al  his  right,  Title  &  Interest  in  any  of  the 
Lands  above  mentioned  to  be  sold  &  w'^^  are  Contained  wi'^'in 
the  bounds  above  expressed:  Except  liberty  of  Fishing  & 
Hunting  w'^^  he  reserveth :  And  it  is  the  intent  of  these  presents 
that  y*^  s^  Elizur  Holyoke,  George  Coulton,  Benjamin  Cooley, 
Samuel  Marshfield  &  Anthony  Dorchester  themselves  and  their 
heires  for  ever  by  virtue  of  these  Presents  are  not  to  have  any 
benefit  or  Priviledge  in  the  Lands,  otherwise  than  as  they  are 
or  shal  be  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Springfield  or  otherwise, 
then  in  General  in  &  w'^  the  Town,  or  otherwise  then  the}^  have 
legal  Right  therein,  or  may  be  granted  by  the  Town,  for  that 
the  Lands  sold  b}^  the  Indians  above  named,  are  so  sold  for  & 
to  y^  onley  use  &  behoofe  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Springfield  & 
to  be  wholy  at  their  disposure. 

"Febr.  4th,  1678.  Being  desired  at  a  Town  meeting  in  Spring- 
field to  declare  what  I  know  concerning  the  Purchase  of  the 
Lands  abovesaid;  I  doe  declare  and  attest  as  foUoweth  viz: 
That 

"The  Indians  above  named,  viz.  Wequaugan  &  Wawapaw 
&  Wecombo  the  true  &  proper  owners  of  al  the  Lands  above 
mentioned  Did  sel  and  by  sale  forever  passe  away  al  the  Land 
above  mentioned  to  M""  Elizur  Holyoke,  Geo.  Colton,  Benja. 
Cooley,  Saml  Marshfield  &  Anthon}^  Dorchester  for  the  use  & 
behoofe  of  the  Town  of  Springfield:  The  bargain  being  made 
in  my  presence,  and  as  I  remember  It  was  in  the  year  1674  or 
thereabouts;  I  was  often  w'*"  y™  in  Treaty  about  it,  w""^  at 
last  came  to  a  conclusion,  to  be  as  above-mentioned,  the  pay- 
ment also  for  the  Lands  as  above  exp^'sse'*,  passing  through  my 
hands  to  the  Indians,  which  the}^  Gladly  accepted  &  did  will- 
ingly own  the  sale  to  me  after  this  Deed  was  Drawne,  they 
comeing  particularly  one  at  a  tyme  to  me  to  subscribe  it,  when 
I  told  them  they  must  come  altogether,  the  want  of  which  was 
the  onley  obstruction,  for  they  often  severaly  acknowledged 
the  sale,  &  this  writing  to  be  according  to  their  mind,  and  mean- 
ing. Also  testifying  their  Readines  to  come  altogether  & 
suscribe,  w'^^  as  they  promised,  so  doubtless  they  would 
have  done  but  that  the  Indian  Warre  happening  in  the 
3^ear  1675,  They  w*^"^  other  Indians  were  drove  away,  before 
which  time  they  made  the  above  express*^  Sale,  And  I  do 
declare  they  did  come  personally  &  owne  &  acknowledg  the 
conveighance  &  sale  of  the  Land  abo\^e  mentioned,  as  above 
exp''ssed. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  7 

"This  then  done  &  by  y*^  Indians  Wequaugan  &  Wawapaw 
&  Wecombo  owned  &  acknowledged  Before  me 

JOHN  PYNCHON,  Assistant." 

"This  entred  these  Records  for  the  County  of  Hampshire 
July  12th  1679  as  Attest  John  Holyoke,  Recor^--." 

I  have  not  been  able  to  find  the  original  deed  conveying  the 
land  east  of  the  line  indicated  by  this  deed. 

There  are  many  traditions  respecting  the  claim  of  a  blind 
Indian  to  the  (mountain  part)  of  the  territory  of  this  town,  and 
of  some  compensation  made  to  him  to  liquidate  it.  What  was 
the  town  of  Wilbraham  from  1763  to  1878,  was  originally  a  part 
of  the  territory  of  Springfield,  which  territory  was  about 
twenty-five  miles  square,  extending  from  Connecticut  River 
east  to  the  present  line  of  Monson,  west  to  Russell  or  there- 
abouts and  from  Warehouse  Point,  or  about  the  south  line  of 
Enfield,  to  the  mountains  or  thereabouts  on  the  north.  I  do 
not  undertake  to  trace  the  boundary  line  accurately.  On  the 
east  side  of  this  territory  extending  from  Connecticut  line  to 
the  north  line  of  the  then  town  of  Springfield  there  was  a  strip 
four  miles  wide,  called  the  "Mountains,"  or  "Outward  Com- 
mons" of  Springfield.  There  was  also  a  strip  on  the  west  side 
of  about  two-thirds  the  same  length,  and  whose  breadth  is 
determined  by  specified  bounds  called  "Outward  Commons  of 
Springfield,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Great  River." 

These  outward  commons  on  each  side  of  the  river  had  not 
been  specially  appropriated  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  Spring- 
field, and  there  was  reason  to  fear  that  Sir  Edmund  Andros, 
Governor  of  Massachusetts,  would  take  away  the  charter  of  the 
colony  as  he  threatened  to  do,  thus  causing  all  the  unappro- 
priated lands  to  revert  to  the  crown— become  the  property  of 
the  king.  To  avoid  such  an  undesirable  transfer  of  ownership 
of  their  common  lands,  the  inhabitants  of  Springfield  voted  in 
town  meeting  February  3rd,  1685,  that  after  reserving  three 
hundred  acres  to  the  ministry,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
for  schools,  on  the  "east  side  of  the  river"  and  a  due  proportion 


8  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

to  the  ministry  and  schools  on  the  "west  side  of  the  Great 
River,"  the  remainder  be  divided  among  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  heads  of  families  or  legal  citizens ;  among  these  is 
included,  by  special  vote,  "our  reverend  teacher,  Mr.  Pelatiah 
Glover." 

Including  the  "ministry  lot"  and  a  "school  lot,"  there 
are  therefore  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  proprietors,  among 
whom  the  land  is  to  be  divided.  The  division  is  to  be 
made  according  to  estates  and  polls — each  poll  to  be  valued  at 
£12;  It  was  also  voted,  that  all  male  children,  under  age, 
should  be  counted  as  polls;  and  further,  that  while  these  lands 
are  unfenced,  any  person  can  use  them  for  grass,  herbage,  and 
timber  and  that  they  shall  be  free  from  taxes  till  improved. 
As  the  lands  appropriated  would  necessarily  vary  very  much 
in  value,  and  as  it  was  not  only  just,  but  desirable,  that  each 
proprietor  should  have  at  least  a  chance  to  secure  a  good  lot  or 
a  portion  of  one,  these  "outward  commons"  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river  were  divided  into  three  portions  and  those  on  the 
west  side  into  two  portions,  making  five  portions  in  all.  These 
portions  were  numbered  from  one  to  125,  beginning  with  the 
northernmost  portion  on  the  east  side;  and  each  of  the  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  proprietors  was  to  have  one  share  in 
each  portion  or  division,  making  five  shares  in  all.  The  first 
division  and  part  of  the  second  were  north  of  Chicopee  River. 
The  second  division  extended  from  about  a  mile  north  of 
Chicopee  River,  south  about  four  miles  to  about  40  rods  north 
of  the  Tinkham  Road,  or  to  the  south  line  of  the  farm  of  the 
heirs  of  James  Merrick,  formerly  of  Deacon  Moses  Burt,  who 
built  the  stone  house  now  standing  there  in  1830,  and  extending 
west  from  Monson  line  four  miles,  to  the  line  of  the  Inner  Com- 
mons, about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  four  comers,  where  our 
present  Springfield  Street  crosses  West  Street.  The  third 
division  was  bounded  north  by  the  second  division,  east  by 
Monson  line,  and  extended  south  to  near  the  top  of  the  old 
Potash  Hill,  to  what  was  then  supposed  to  be  the  line  of  Con- 
necticut, and  west  to  the  line  of  the  "inner  commons,"  the 
same  as  the  west  bounds  of  the  second  division.     The  "inner 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  9 

commons"  was  that  territory  which  extended  from  the  "out- 
ward commons"  west  to  the  settled  portions  of  Springfield, 
sometimes  called  the  plains.  Each  of  these  five  divisions  was 
to  be  appropriated  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  persons, 
and  a  lot  for  the  ministry,  and  one  for  the  schools.  We  may  say 
there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  proprietors,  or  persons, 
between  whom  each  division  is  to  be  divided.  There  will  be 
therefore  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  lots  in  each  "division." 
These  lots  are  numbered,  beginning  at  the  north  side  of  each 
division;  the  north  lot  being  one,  the  next  two,  and  so  on  up  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five.  These  same  numbers  are  drawn 
from  a  box  like  a  lottery;  from  another  box,  at  the  same  time 
we  may  suppose,  is  drawn  a  proprietor's  name.  The  proprietor 
who  drew  No.  1  would  have  the  first  lot  in  the  "division,"  he 
who  drew  No.  2  would  have  the  second  lot,  and  so  on  till  the 
whole  number,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  was  drawn.  Then 
lots  would  be  drawn  for  the  second  division,  and  so  on  till  all 
the  divisions  were  drawn.  After  the  number  of  the  proprietor's 
lot  was  settled,  the  next  step  was  to  determine  its  width;  its 
length  was  four  miles  of  necessity,  because  the  lots  extended 
across  the  "commons"  from  east  to  west.  The  width  was 
determined  by  adding  together  the  value  of  all  the  polls  and 
estates,  and  then,  as  the  whole  amount  would  represent  all  the 
land  in  one  division,  or  the  whole  extent  north  and  south  of 
about  four  miles,  so  each  man's  estate  and  polls  would  represent 
his  individual  portion  of  each  division,  or  the  width  of  his  lot. 
A  problem  in  simple  proportion.  John  Holyoke  was  chosen  to 
make  out  a  list  of  the  estates  and  polls,  and  very  probably  to 
superintend  the  allotment.  The  lots  varied  in  width  from  one 
hundred  and  thirty-three  rods,  fifteen  feet,  and  nine  inches, 
which  was  the  width  of  Colonel  Pynchon's  lot,  being  No.  2  in 
the  second  division,  lying  north  of  Chicopee  River,  and  lot 
No.  81  in  the  third  division,  lying  about  one  and  one-half  or 
two  miles  south  of  the  north  line  of  the  present  town  of  Hamp- 
den, down  to  only  eight  feet  and  nine  inches  in  width,  which 
was  the  width  of  the  lot  of  William  Brooks,  being  No.  Ill  in 
the  second  division,  and  No.  13  in  the  third  division. 


10 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


A  lot  four  miles  long  and  one  rod  wide  would  contain  eight 
acres,  so  it  will  be  seen  that  each  of  Colonel  Pynchon's  lots  con- 
tained more  than  one  thousand  acres,  and  those  of  William 
Brooks  about  four  acres  each.  It  is  said  that  no  satisfactory 
survey  was  made  of  these  lots,  though  several  were  attempted, 
until  1729,  when  Mr.  Roger  Newbury  ran  the  west  line  of  the 
outward  commons  acceptably.  In  1863  a  boundary  stone  in 
the  third  division  was  said  to  be  standing,  or  rather  lying  nearly 


OLD  BOUNDARY  STONE. 

Now  standing  in  southeast  part  of  the  town  of   Hampden. 


buried,  on  the  north  side  of  the  then  Sylvanus  Stebbins  fann, 
about  ten  rods  west  of  the  Main  Street,  and  another  was  said 
to  be  standing  about  1830  on  the  north  side  of  the  then  Dr. 
Samuel  F.  Merrick  house  lot.  It  was  many  years  before  these 
allotments  were  definitely  marked.  Many  of  the  original  pro- 
prietors were  dead,  and  the  heirs  of  some  of  them  were  found 
with  great  difficulty,  and  it  is  said  that  another  allotment  was 
attempted  in  1740  to  about  400  persons,  and  another  in  1754, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  11 

on  a  different  principle  to  544  persons.  But  serious  difficulties 
were  in  the  way  of  new  allotments.  Some  of  the  original  lots 
had  been  sold,  either  by  the  original  proprietors  or  their  heirs, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  Pynchon  heirs  having  obtained  excellent 
portions,  under  the  first  allotment,  would  not  agree  to  any  new 
arrangement. 

In  the  survey  of  the  original  lots,  for  some  reason,  only  six- 
teen feet  were  allowed  to  a  rod.  This  is  always  mentioned  in 
the  early  deeds,  when  the  width  of  the  lot  in  rods  is  given,  so 
there  would  be  a  strip  of  "over-plus  land"  on  the  south  side  of 
each  division.  The  "over-plus  land"  on  the  south  side  of  the 
third  division  was  sixty-two  rods  wide,  and  by  some  mistake 
supposed  to  be  the  loss  of  a  tally,  there  were  eighty-two  rods  in 
width  of  "over-plus  land"  on  the  south  side  of  the  second 
division.  The  south  side  of  the  second  division,  on  our  Main 
Street,  is  now  the  south  side  of  the  farm  of  the  heirs  of  James 
Merrick,  formerly  of  Moses  Burt.  The  line  is  about  40  rods 
north  of  the  center  of  the  Tinkham  Road. 

The  eastern  line  of  the  Outward  Commons  was  bounded  on 
Monson  line,  or  Brimfield,  as  it  was  then  called.  On  March  23, 
1684-85  a  committee  was  sent  out  to  survey  and  establish  the 
line  between  Monson  and  Springfield.  I  copy  the  first  part  of 
their  report.  "We  quickly  found  the  Brooke  there  (Commonly 
called  Stony  Brooke)  to  Part  and  become  two  brookes — fol- 
lowed up  the  largest  stream  and  found  it  to  turn  away  East- 
ward— our  Grant  by  y^  Gen"  Corte  was  from  the  Brooke — 
about  40  or  50  rods  east  from  where  the  brooke  parts — on  Rising 
ground  by  the  side  of  Stony  Brook  we  pitched  our  East  Bounds, 
— about  40  or  50  rods  further  north  we  came  to  cross  the  Bay 
Path."  They  then  ran  the  line  to  the  north,  and  on  April  6, 
1685  ran  the  line  to  the  south.  In  1735  the  line  between 
Brimfield  and  Springfield  was  again  "Surveyed,  Run  &  Re- 
newed. Beginning  at  a  dead  Pine  tree  Standing  a  little  North- 
ward of  the  Bay  Path  or  (more  commonly  called)  the  Old 
Rhoad." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  vote  of  the  town  of  Springfield 
by  which  the  land  of  the  "Outward  Commons"  was  allotted. 


12  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

It  is  said  this  copy  was  recorded  a  century  after  the  vote  was 
passed : — 

"Feb'y  3d,  1684  (1685  as  we  reckon) 

Att  a  General  Town  Meeting. 

"Further  forasmuch  as  the  additional  bounds  or  Grant  of 
Lands  to  this  Town  by  the  Hono^^  Gen^'  Co""'  May  last  1684, 
was  &  is  to  the  present  Inhabitants  &  proprieto"  of  Springfield 
their  Heirs  &  assigns  forever.  Many  of  whom  are  desirous  of  & 
moving  for  their  Share  in  s^  land,  upon  w'^'^  w'*"  other  Con- 
siderations Inducing,  It  was  at  this  Meeting  Voted  &  Con- 
cluded that  the  Eastern  line  or  bound  of  the  plantation  of 
Springfield  being  run  &  Stated  from  Hadley  Town  bound  on  the 
North  to  Enfield  Town  bound  on  the  South,  Then  all  the  land 
from  the  s"^  Eastern  line  for  four  miles  westward  toward  the  s*^ 
Springfield  from  both  the  Northern  &  Southern  bounds  is 
hereby  Granted  &  agreed  to  be  laid  out  in  Proprietys  to  Each 
p''sent  Inhabitant  &  proprietor  his  Heirs  &  assigns  forever  his 
due  proportion,  &  also  the  lands  on  the  west  Side  of  the  Great 
River  from  John  Riley'^  Brook  Northward  to  Northampton 
bounds,  &  to  Westfield  bounds  westward.  Also  the  land  from 
the  head  of  the  Brook  beyond  Thomas  Coopers  that  runs  into 
three  mile  Brook  unto  Southfield  Southward  &  unto  Westfield 
westward  be  alike  distributed  to  Each  Inhabitant  &  pro- 
prieto""  their  Heirs  &  assigns  forever;  &  in  special  it  was  Voted 
that  three  hundred  acres  at  the  least  be  granted  to  the  Ministry 
on  the  East  side  the  River  out  of  the  land  hereby  first  Voted  to 
be  laid  out  as  afores'^,  &  that  one  hundred  &  fifty  acres  be  to 
the  School  out  of  the  same  &  that  the  ministry  &  the  School 
have  their  proportions  in  the  lands  on  the  west  side  of  the  Great 
River.  As  also  that  o""  Reverend  Teacher  M""  Pelatiah  Glover 
have  his  proportion  in  the  lands  hereby  agreed  to  be  laid  out  on 
both  Sides  of  the  Great  River.  It  was  further  Voted  &  agreed 
that  the  lands  on  the  East  bounds  of  the  Town  Shall  be  laid  out 
in  three  Divisions  &  that  the  lands  on  the  west  side  the  gr' 
River  shall  be  laid  out  in  two  divisions  to  Each  man  his  propor- 
tions. It  was  also  Voted  that  these  divisions  to  each  man  shall 
be  by  Casting  of  lotts,  &  that  division  by  Casting  lots,  be  by  as 
many  lots  or  Casting  of  lots  as  there  be  divisions.  It  was 
further  Voted  that  the  first  lot  begin  on  the  Northerly  part  of 
the  land  to  be  divided;  Also  it  was  further  Voted  that  these 
divisions  be  by  Estates  and  poles,  &  that  the  poles  be  Esteemed 
in  the  Rate  at  twelve  pounds  p""  pole,  &  that  all  Male  Children 
under  age  be  Valued  as  rateable  polls  Viz.  12  £  p''  pole.    It  was 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


13 


further  Voted  &  Concluded  that  these  lands  when  divided  while 
Common  or  Unfenced  shall  be  Common  or  free  to  all  the 
Inhabitants  for  Grass,  herbage  &  Timber  &  free  from  Rates 
till  Improved  &  then  Rated  only  as  Improved,  &  that  Jno. 
Holyoke  draw  a  list  of  Estates  &  poles  of  the  Inhabitants  for 
the  Measurer." 


I  copy  from  the  Stebbins  History : 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  allotment,  made  from  the 
records  of  the  town  of  Springfield.  There  was  one  division — ■ 
the  first — lying  wholly  in  the  present  town  of  Ludlow,  north  of 
this  second  division,  which  was  mostly  in  what  is  now  the  town 
of  Wilbraham. 


"A  list  of  the  lotts  in  the  second  or  middle  division  of  the 
out-ward  commons  on  the  east  side  of  the  great  river  in  Spring- 
field are  as  follows  viz : — • 


No.  Rods 

1  Samuel  Marshfield 18 

2  CoUo.  Pynchon 13.3 

3  David  Throw 1 

4  John  Warner 11 

5  Samuel  Stebbins 9 

6  James  Stephenson 1 

7  Benjamin  Knowlton ...  5 

S  Joseph  Stebbins 15 

9  Obadiah  Miller,  Junr 

10  Ebenezer  Jones 6 

11  Eliakim  Cooley 11 

12  Jonathan  Burt,  Junr.  ...  5 

13  Widow  Bedortha 4 

14  Increase  Sikes,  Junr 10 

1.5  John  Burt,  Senr 5 

16  James  Petty 4 

17  Quartermaster  Colton.  .  .  2.5 

18  James  Munn 1 

19  Joseph  Ely 1 

20  Widow  Sikes,  Senr 9 

21  John  Stewart 7 

22  Joseph  Cooley 5 

23  Jonathan  Morgan 5 

24  Jonathan  Taylor's  Estate  5 

25  John  Holvoke 26 

26  Henrv  Rogers 9 

27  John  Colton 1 

28  John  Lamb 17 

29  John  Miller 6 

30  School  Lot 18 

31  Revd.  Mr.  Glover 21 

32  Thomas  Miller 8 

33  Lazarus  Miller 2 

34  Nathaniel  Pritchard ....  8 

35  Henry  Gilbert 4 

36  Samuel  Bliss,  Junr 10 

37  Thomas  Taylor 1 

38  Ministrj'  Lott 37 

39  Victory  Sikes 1 


Ft. 

In. 

No. 

2 

6 

40 

15 

9 

41 

o 

42 

1 

7 

43 

n 

9 

44 

4 

1 

45 

11 

46 

12 

47 

8 

9 

48 

7 

10 

49 

1 

6 

50 

13 

( 

51 

3 

4 

52 

8 

53 

4 

10 

54 

6 

55 

7 

3 

56 

12 

o 

57 

5 

58 

6 

6  1 

59 

7 

10  1 

60 

14 

6 

61 

10 

1 

62 

11 

63 

4 

64 

8 

8 

65 

n 

66 

10 

2 

67 

.-> 

68 

9 

69 

8 

9 

70 

4 

f> 

71 

6 

6 

72 

1 

11 

73 

2 

74 

14 

6 

/o 

10 

3 

76 

4 

77 

11 

1  1 

78 

Rods  Ft.  In. 

Thomas  Stebbins 5  10  6 

Thomas  Gilbert 5  8  4 

Obadiah  Cooley,  Senr.  .  .  20  5  8 

James  Warriner,  Senr.  .  .  20  .  .  8 

Daniel  Coolev 13  9  5 

Nathaniel  Munn 3  8  10 

Peter  Swink 3  13  3 

Samuel  Bliss,  Senr 18  3  9 

John  Bliss 18  9  .. 

Samuel  Miller 5  7  6 

Nicholas  Rust 7 

Nathaniel  Sikes,  Senr. ...       4  .  .  9 

Goodwife  Foster's  Estate       5  8  1 

Edward  Stebbins 5  4  5 

Henry  Chapin 19  14  .. 

Samuel  Jones 3  13 

Joseph  Bedortha 9  6 

L'.  Abel  Wright 16  14  4 

Wido.  Parsons 10  6  8 

John  Scott 7  9  7 

Widow  Beamon 8  12 

John  Clarke 2  13  11 

Thomas  Sweatman 2  10 

John  Clark'%  Estate.  ..  .        6  11  2 

John  Dumbleton 11  4  3 

Joseph  Ashley 14  11  4 

Obadiah  Miller,  Junr 2  15  3 

John  Keep's  Estate 6  5  .. 

Philip  Mattoon 5  11  .. 

Lt.  John  Hitchcock 22  2  4 

David  Lumbard 8  1  11 

John  Withers 1  5 

Joseph  Marks 1  5 

Daniel  Beamon 1  5 

John  Norton S  3  8 

Thomas  Day,  Senr 16  3  5 

Edward  Foster 9  7  4 

Samuel  Bedortha 4  14  3 

Samuel  Osburn 1  15  6 


14 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


No.                                                  Rods  Ft.  In. 

79  Jonathan  Ball 11  13 

80  Samuel  Ferrv,  Senr 9  6  11 

81  Isaac  Colton 13  3  3 

82  David  Morgan 9  13  6 

83  John  Barber 11  4 

84  James  Osburn 2  5  2 

85  Ensn.  Cooley,  Estate...        6  9  10 

86  Jonathan  Ashley 14  11  4 

87  John  Bagg's  Children ...        6  2  5 

88  James  Barker 5  4 

89  Joseph  Crowfoot's  Estate       7  14 

90  Deacn.  Benja.  Parsons    .12  6  7 

91  Capt.  Thomas  Colton    .  .      10  13  8 

92  Samuel  Ely,  Senr 11  7  9 

93  Isaac  Morgan 13  1 

94  Joseph  Thomas 9  5  2 

95  Samuel  Bliss,  3d 2  14  4 

96  John  Dorchester 22  2  9 

97  Joseph  Leonard 14  8  9 

98  Luke  Hitchcock,  Senr.  .  .      10  7  6 

99  Wido.  Munn 2  10  .  . 

100  Benjamin  Coolev 7  3  6 

101  Wido.  Rilev 4  13  10 

102  Abel  Leonard 6  3  9 


No.  Rods  Ft.  In. 

103  Benjamin  Stebbins,  Senr.  5  4  10 

104  James  Dorchester,  Senr. .  12  11 

105  Japhet  Chapin 23  2  1 

106  Thomas  Merrick,  Senr...  18  15  7 

107  Thomas  Jones 1  10  .  . 

108  Samuel  Owen 9  6  11 

109  John  Harmon 9  13  .  . 

110  Rowland  Thomas 12  6  7 

111  William  Brooks 8  9 

112  Benjamin  Leonard 10  13  3 

113  Jo.siah  Leonard 10  10  7 

114  Charles  Ferry,  Senr 14  10  11 

115  Wido.  Horton 19  2  9 

116  Miles  Morgan 10  1  10 

117  Deacn.  Jona.  Burt 12  6  7 

118  Richard  Wait 1  5  .. 

119  Thomas  Cooper 18  7  3 

120  John  Crowfoot 3  8 

121  Nathaniel  Bliss,  Senr 9  8  10 

122  Samuel  Ball 12  4  .. 

123  Nathaniel  Burt,  Senr 23  .  .  4 

124  James  Taylor,  Senr 6  7  3 

125  Ephraim  Colton,  Senr. .  .  15  10  8 


A  list  of  the  lotts  of  the  outward  commons  on  the  east  side  of 
the  great  river  in  Springfield,  are  as  follows,  Viz.  third  division  :- 


No.                                                  Rods  Ft. 

1  Thomas  Tavlor 1  10 

2  David  Throw 1  5 

3  Jonathan  Morgan 5  10 

4  Widow  Beamen 8  12 

5  Obadiah  Cooley,  Senr ...  20  5 

6  Joseph  Thomas 9  5 

7  Japhet  Chapin 23  2 

8  Benjamin  Stebbins,  Senr.  5  4 

9  John  Warner 11  1 

10  Nathaniel  Munn 3  8 

11  Thomas  Cooper 18  7 

12  Victory  Sikes 1  11 

13  W".  Brooks 8 

14  John  Crowfoot 3  8 

15  Rev.  Mr.  Glover 21  8 

16  Samuel  Jones 3  13 

17  Lt.  Abel  Wright 16  14 

18  John  Scott 7  9 

19  Miles  Morgan 10  1 

20  Joseph  Cooley 5  14 

21  Jonathan  Taylor's  Estate       5  11 

22  John  Norton" 8  3 

23  Thomas  Gilbert 5  8 

24  Deacon  Burt 12  6 

25  Ebenezer  Jones 6  7 

26  Joseph  Bedortha 9  6 

27  Nathaniel  Pritchard ....  8  1 

28  Edward  Stebbins 5  4 

29  Jonathan  Ashley 14  11 

30  Ensn.  Cooley 's  Estate. .  .  6  9 

31  Joseph  Marks 1  5 

32  Benjamin  Cooley 7  3 

33  Thomas  Swetman 2  10 

34  James  Osburn 2  5 

35  John  Bliss 18  9 

36  Joseph  Stebbins 15  12 

37  Obadiah  Miller,  Senr S  8 


''n. 

No. 

3 

38 

39 

1 

40 

41 

8 

42 

2 

43 

1 

44 

10 

45 

( 

46 

10 

47 

3 

48 

1 

49 

9 

,50 

51 

9 

52 

53 

4 

54 

7 

55 

10 

56 

6 

57 

58 

8 

59 

4 

60 

7 

61 

10 

62 

63 

n 

64 

o 

65 

4 

66 

10 

67 

68 

6 

(i9 

70 

2 

71 

72 

73 

9 

74 

Rods  Ft.  In. 

Lazarus  Miller 2  6  6 

Samuel  Ely,  Senr 11  7  9 

John  Stewart 7  7  10 

Widow  Bedortha 4  3  4 

Samuel  Ball 12  4  .. 

Samuel  Marshfield 18  2  6 

John  Lamb 17  10  2 

Samuel  Terry 9  6  11 

Thomas  Merrick,  Senr.   .18  15  7  - 

John  Harmon 9  13 

Joseph  Ashley 14  11  4 

Increase  Sikes,  Senr 10  8 

John  Barber 11  4 

Lt.  Hitchcock 22  2  3 

Peter  Swink 3  13  4 

Samuel  Bliss  3d 2  14  4 

Nicholas  Rust 7  .  .  .  . 

Samuel  Miller 5  7-6 

Charles  Ferry,  Senr 14  10  11 

David  Morgan 9  13  6 

Isaac  Morgan 13  1 

Benjamin  Knowlton.  ...  5  11 

James  Dorchester,  Senr. .  12  11 

Philip  Mattoon 5  11  .. 

John  Keep's  Estate 6  5 

Widow  Horton 19  2  9 

Ministrv  Lott 37  4 

Joseph  Ely 11  5  .. 

Nathaniel  Sikes,  Senr. ...  4  .  .  9 

David  Lumbard 8  1  11 

Thomas  Day,  Senr 16  3  5 

James  Stephenson 1  4  1 

James  Patty 4  6 

Capt.  Thomas  Colton ...  10  13  8 

John  Clark's  Estate 6  11  2 

Isaac  Colton 13  3  3 

John  Leonard 14  S  9 


The  History  op^  Wilbraham 


15 


No. 

Rods 

Ft. 

In. 

\o. 

75  John  Dorchester 

22 

2 

9 

101 

76  James  Taylor,  S.^'nr. 

(1 

7 

3 

102 

77  John  Withers 

1 

5 

103 

78  Eliakim  Cooley.  . 

11 

1 

6 

104 

79  Widow  Riley 

4 

13 

10 

105 

80  Henry  Rogers. 

9 

8 

8 

106 

SI  Col.  Pvnchon  , 

133 

15 

9 

107 

82  Samuel  Bedortha . 

4 

14 

3 

108 

83  Thoiiia,^  Miller.  .  . 

S 

4 

0 

109 

84  Daniel  Cooley...       . 

13 

9 

5 

110 

85  John  Baggs  Children. 

6 

2 

5 

111 

86  Samuel  Osburn 

1 

15 

5 

112 

87  George  Colton ... 

25 

7 

3 

113 

88  Henry  Gilbert .  . 

4 

2 

114 

89  John'MiUer 

4 

2 

115 

90  Dea.  Benj.  Parsons 

6 

5 

116 

91  Edward  Foster 

9 

7 

4 

117 

92  Nathaniel  Burt,  Senr. . 

23 

4 

118 

93  Sergt.  Hitchcock 

10 

7 

6 

119 

94  Thomas  Jones.  . . 

1 

12 

120 

95  Nathaniel  Bliss.  . 

9 

<s 

10 

121 

96  John  Burt,  Senr. 

5 

4 

10 

122 

97  Richard  Wait .  . 

1 

5 

123 

98  Widow  Sikes 

9 

6 

6 

124 

99  James  Munn 

1 

12 

5 

125 

100  Jonathan  Ball 

11 

13 

Rod.s 

Samuel  Owen 9 

Josiah  Leonard.  .               .  10 

Samuel  Stebbins 9 

Samuel  Bliss  Senr 18 

Abel  Leonard 6 

James  Barker 5 

Widow  Parsons 10 

Thomas  Stebbins 5 

James  Warriner,  Senr  ...  20 

Ephraim  Colton,  Senr. .  15 

Benjamin  Leonard 10 

Henry  Chapin 19 

Goodwife  Foster's  Estate  5 

School  Lott 18 

Widow  Munn 2 

Samuel  Bliss,  Junr 10 

Daniel  Beamon 1 

Jonathan  Burt,  Junr 5 

Mr.  Holyoke 26 

Rowland  Thomas.  .  12 

John  Colton 1 

John  Clark 2 

Joseph  Crowfoot's  Estate  7 

John  Dumbleton 11 

Obadiah  Miller,  Junr. .    .  2 


Ft.  In. 

6     11 
10 
11 

3 

3 

4 

6 
10 


On  "Nov.  7th  1698  Colon*^'  John  Pynchon  Esq--  M^  Pclatiah 
Glover  En^  Joseph  Stebbins  Sen.  David  Morgan  &  Jehojadah 
Bartlett  went  to  the  Eastward  End  of  the  Town  bounds  to 
measured  the  four  miles  Granted  by  the  Town  in  Proportion 
according  to  the  Proprietors  Estates,  as  it  was  Stated  in  Mar. 
Ano:    Dom:    1685." 


(Their  report  is  especially  interesting  because  of  the  names 
used  to  describe  certain  localities.    The  report  goes  on  to  say) : 

"And  we  Came  to  the  Stated  Pine  tree  over  Twelve  mil  Brooke: 
on  the  Easterly  Side  of  s'^  Brooke  w''"'  tree  was  inarked  with 
S.  P.  for  Springfield  bounds  when  first  said  bounds  were  laid 
out  as  our  Most  Easterly  bounds,  &  found  the  line  or  Rang  of 
Trees  y'  Run  North  &  South  there  at  Our  Easterly  End,  & 
finding  s'^  Pine  tree  which  was  Marked  of  old  S.  P.  to  be  much 
burnt  &  decayed,  tho  S.  P.  was  fairly  to  be  seen  &  left  unburnt 
when  as  a  gr'  Part  of  the  Tree  both  below  &  above  the  mark  was 
burnt,  &  s''  tree  like  to  decay,  we  therefore  (haveing  a  Coinpas 
to  direct  us)  Tooke  y*"  former  &  first  line  at  the  Easterly  end 
s*^  bounds  w"*"  was  North  &  South  &  came  to  another  pine  tree 
about  twenty  rods  more  Northerly  (in  s<^  Line)  which  was  as 
formerly  marked  at  the  first  Laying  out  of  our  bounds,  &  had 
the  Surveiors  marke  O  set  on  Each  side  of  that  Tree,  which 
Tree  being  a  fair  &  fresh  pine  Tree,  &  from  the  first  markt  there, 
we  gathered  to  it  some  few  stones — &  fro  Whence  we  Set  to 
worke  to  measure  of  four  miles  towards  the  Town  from  this  o"" 


16  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

most  Easterly  bounds,  marking  Trees  as  wc  went."  (I  have 
abbreviated  the  report  from  this  point,  but  have  kept  the  names 
and  description  of  localities.)  "  Coming  on  West  and  measuring 
One  Mile  we  marked  a  white  oake  tree  on  the  hill  side  which  is 
on  y^  easterly  side  of  y^  Brooke  commonly  called  Eleven  Mile 
Brooke,  said  tree  being  towards  the  Northerly  end  of  s^  hil. 
Thence  coming  Still  on  west  marked  trees  till  we  came  to 
Manchonish  pond  and  marked  a  white  oake  tree  close  to 
northerly  end  of  it,  being  two  miles  west  of  our  most  easterl}^ 
bounds,  and  about  20  rods  south  of  the  north  end  of  Pond, 
We  estimated  the  width  of  the  pond  there  at  about  60  rods  and 
measured  on  west  to  the  rising  near  the  gutter  to  a  tree  which 
made  three  miles.  Going  on  thence  west  marked  trees  for  the 
4th  mile  which  led  us  to  the  North  end  of  Stony  Hill,  where 
Rosin  was  first  made  by  Cap*^  Germon  by  Chickupi  River,  then 
westerly  over  s^  hil  a  little  towards  the  northerly  end  of  it  & 
throw  those  Pine  Trees  used  for  Rosin  to  the  Pondy  Low  Land 
westerly,  and  a  little  over  that  Low  or  Pondy  Land  our  four 
miles  were  Compleated.  We  marked  2  pine  trees  standing  close 
together  about  30  rods  southerly  of  Chickupi  River.  The  said 
4  miles  being  Compleated  a  little  on  this  Side  the  place  where 
Cap'  Germon  made  Rosin." 

This  survey  or  measurement,  while  it  was  doubtless  made  in 
a  straight  line,  as  laid  out  by  the  compass,  seems  to  have  been 
very  near  the  Old  Bay  Path,  and  it  mentions  names  of  localities 
with  which  we  are  to-day  familiar.  We  know  that  Five  Mile 
Pond,  Eight  Mile  Gutter,  Nine  Mile  Pond,  were  given  those 
names  because  they  are  about  that  distance  from  Springfield. 
But  the  name,  "Twelve  Mile  Brook,"  as  applied  to  the  stream 
running  into  Chicopee  River,  where  the  river  comes  down  from 
the  north  and  makes  almost  a  square  turn  to  the  west,  has 
always  seemed  to  me  to  be  out  of  place.  But  I  am  glad  to 
learn  that  it  had  in  those  early  days  the  more  appropriate 
name  of  Eleven  Mile  Brook  and  that  Twelve  Mile  Brook  is 
about  where  it  ought  to.be,  a  mile  further  to  the  eastward,  and 
about  twelve  miles  from  Springfield.  It  is  also  very  near  the 
eastern  border  of  our  town.  I  have  also  found  those  names 
applied  to  those  streams  in  the  early  records  of  alterations  and 
changes  made  in  the  Old  Bay  Road.  It  is  interesting  to  know 
that  our  Nine  Mile  Pond  was  once  called  Manchonish  Pond, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  17 

probably  named  for  some  Indian,  and  that,  previous  to  1698, 
rosin  was  made  at  the  north  end  of  Stony  Hill,  very  near  the 
place  where  the  electric  railway  now  passes  over  the  tracks  of 
the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad. 

On  April  1,  1717,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  fix  the  line 
between  the  Inward  and  Outward  Commons.  I  have  not 
found  any  record  of  a  survey  until  that  of  Roger  Newbury 
in  1729. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  Mr.  Roger  Newbury's  survey  as  I 
have  found  it  in  the  records  of  Hampden  County  in  the  Registry 
of  Deeds. 

Page  2,  Second  Section,  Records  of  Outward  Commons: 

"To  Col°  John  Pynchon,  U  Will"^  Pynchon  M""  Glover  and 
M""  Parsons  (Comtee  for  the  Prop"  of  Springfield  Eastern 
Outward  Commons. 

"Gen'^n  According  to  and  in  pursuance  of  the  Instructions 
delivered  to  me  from  you  With  Respect  to  the  finding  out  the 
length  of  your  s^  Commons  and  dividing  them  into  three  equal 
parts  I  have  with  my  Utmost  Care  and  according  to  the  best  of 
my  skill  measured  s'^  land  and  divided  it  as  followeth,  Viz;  on 
the  20th  &  22nd  days  of  May  last  I  began  at  the  Northwest 
Comer  of  s'^  Outward  Commons  at  a  Stake  and  heap  of  stones 
which  according  to  the  best  light  and  Knowledge  that  I  could 
anyways  gain  was  the  end  of  the  four  miles  measured  out  for 
s^  Outward  Commons  by  Mr.  John  Chandler  Jun""  and  from 
s^  Monumn'^  I  run  a  due  South  line  and  measured  down  to 
Enfield  bounds  and  found  that  there  was  twelve  miles  and  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  rods,  which  being  divided  into  three  Equal 
parts  Each  part  or  division  will  Contain  four  miles  and  thirty 
Eight  rods  and  five  feet  and  one  half  and  at  the  Northwest 
Comer  of  the  Upper  Division  by  the  Stake  and  heap  of  stones 
from  whence  we  first  set  out  we  dug  a  Ditch  East  and  South, 
And  Another  at  the  Northwest  Comer  of  the  Second  Division 
in  a  low  plain  North  of  the  west  End  of  a  certain  Hill  about 
half  a  mile  North  of  Chickabee  River,  and  another  Ditch  at  the 
Northwest  Comer  of  the  third  or  last  division  at  the  South 
End  of  a  little  Marsh  South  of  Worlds  end  Brook  and  another 
Ditch  at  the  Southend  of  the  s'^  outward  Commons  Next  to 
Enfield  s'^  ditch  runs  North  and  East. 

Dat.  at  Springfield  June  4th  1729 
by  Roger  Newbury  Surveyor." 


18  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"June  y^  23:  1729 
"At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Outward  Commons 
on  the  East  Side  of  the  Great  River  in  Springfield  W""  Pynchon 
Moderator  Voted  an  acceptance  of  the  within  Return  of  M"" 
Roger  Newbury  Surveyor,  and  that  the  within  Monuments 
made  by  the  s'^  Newbury  shall  be  the  Standing  Monuments 
for  y^  three  Division  of  y""  s'^  Outward  Commons." 

Also  at  a  meeting  held  March  27,  1738,  it  was  voted  to  accept 
the  Newbury  survey. 

A  few  years  ago  I  discovered  a  depression  in  the  ground,  in  a 
piece  of  woodland  south  of  "World's  End  Brook,"  (now  Pole 
Bridge  Brook),  which  seemed  to  me  at  the  time,  to  have  been 
made  artificially.  The  place  is  in  the  woodland,  about  40  to  60 
rods  south  of  the  Tinkham  Road,  and  about  60  to  90  rods  west 
of  West  Street,  very  near  the  east  side  of  the  woodlot,  and  it 
may  be  the  same  ditch  which  Surveyor  Newbury  had  dug,  to 
fix  the  northwest  comer  of  the  third  division.  I  have  been 
informed  by  Mortimer  Pease  of  Hampden,  that  there  is  a  some- 
what similar  ditch  in,  or  near,  the  meadow,  about  70  to  100  rods 
westerly  of  where  the  main  road  to  Somers  crosses  the  Scantic 
in  that  town.  The  Connecticut  line,  in  those  ancient  days,  was 
supposed  to  be  about  one  mile  north  of  where  it  now  is.  If 
these  ditches  are  the  bounds  established  by  surveyor  Newbury, 
they  should  be  one-half  mile  east  of  the  present  west  bounds  of 
the  two  towns.    They  must  be  very  near  that. 

So  far  as  I  have  found,  Newbury's  survey  only  fixed  the  west 
bounds  of  the  Outward  Commons. 

The  land  in  the  Outward  Commons  was  divided  into  three 
divisions,  and  a  lot  in  each  division  allotted  to  each  one  of  the 
125  original  proprietors,  in  1685,  but  it  was  forty-one  years  before 
the  lots  were  definitely  fixed,  and  established  on  the  ground 
itself.  The  report  of  the  laying  out  of  the  lots  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  seems  to  be  included  in  the  records  of  the  laying  out 
of  the  lots  on  the  west  side. 

On  April  12,  1726,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Joseph  Miller, 
Henry  Rogers  and  Frances  Ball  reported  as  follows:  (I  have 
only  copied  what  seems  to  relate  to  the  east  side.) 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  19 

"  Accordingly  we  have  measured  out  allottments  proportion- 
able to  Each  Originall  lott  on  y^  East  side  of  y^  River  and 
headed  y^  Same  on  y^  East  End  of  Each  allotment  with  Suffi- 
cient bound  stones  or  other  Sufficient  monuments  fairly  marked 
with  y^  Number  of  Each  lott  agreable  to  y^  list  by  w'^'^  the  s"^ 
lotts  were  drawn  as  appears  upon  Record  and  by  which  the 
particular  lotts  may  be  known  in  time  to  come.  Viz.  in  y^ 
Eastward  Teer  or  range  y*^  monuments  are  Set  at  y^  South  East 
Comer — but  in  y^  Middle  Range  they  are  set  on  y^  North  East 
Comer  of  y^  lotts  and  y*^  marks  are  all  facing  to  the  breadth 
of  y^  lotts." 

Such  was  the  division  made  of  the  land;  and  the  vote  of  the 
town  of  Springfield,  by  which  this  distribution  of  the  territory 
of  this  town  was  made  among  those  early  proprietors,  consti- 
tutes the  original  legal  title  which  the  present  occupants  have 
to  the  soil. 

It  was  about  ninety-four  years  after  the  first  settlers  reached 
Springfield,  before  any  attempt  was  made  to  start  a  settlement 
in  the  Outward  Commons.  The  appearance  of  the  land  was 
not  attractive.  Nearly  the  whole  territory,  called  by  the 
Indians  Minnechaug,  "Berry  land,"  had  been  so  devastated  by 
fires,  that  in  many  places  there  were  no  forest  trees — and  in 
other  portions  hardly  any  shrubbery  grew.  The  low,  swampy 
grounds  and  swales  afforded  a  coarse  grass  which  was  mowed 
and  cured  for  the  support  of  cattle  during  the  winter  season, 
and  the  hills  furnished  pasturage  during  the  summer.  The 
tradition  is  handed  down  to  us,  from  those  early  days,  that  the 
country  was  so  bare  in  many  places  that  a  deer  could  be  seen 
from  mountain  to  mountain.  Game  was  very  abundant,  and 
continued  to  be  till  long  after  the  settlement  of  the  town. 
Deer  filled  the  pastures  and  the  woods;  wild  turkeys  ran  in 
flocks  over  the  fields  and  hills;  the  ponds  were  covered  with 
ducks,  and  the  squirrels  on  the  trees,  filled  the  air  with  their 
barking.  Muskrats  swarmed  upon  the  banks  of  the  streams 
and  beavers  built  their  dams  on  Pole  Bridge  Brook. 

About  half  a  mile  north  of  the  centre  of^our  Centre  Village, 
there  is  a  cart  path  running  off  westerly  from  our  Main  Street, 
on  the  farm  of  the  late  John  W.   Bliss,  now  owned  by  his 


20  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

daughter,  Mrs.  Gillet,  and  about  one-third  of  a  mile  from 
Main  Street  the  path  crosses  a  narrow  strip  of  swampy  land  on 
ground  that  has  evidently  been  filled  in  at  some  time.  It  used 
to  be  said  that  the  beavers  did  it,  and  within  my  recollection 
the  place  was  called  "Beaver  Dam."  Shad  were  in  the  streams 
in  springtime,  and  salmon,  weighing  from  seven  to  twelve 
pounds,  came  up  the  Chicopee  River  as  far  as  Eleven  Mile 
Brook — now  frequently  called  Twelve  Mile  Brook — where 
they  were  caught  in  great  abundance  with  seines. 

Beasts  of  prey  were  not  abundant,  but  sometimes  bears  made 
their  appearance  and  feasted  on  the  unripe  com,  much  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  planter  and  the  terror  of  his  children.  It  was 
not  uncommon  for  devout  aunts  to  still  the  restlessness  of  the 
children,  who  were  left  in  their  care,  both  on  Sundays  and  on 
other  days,  when  their  pranks  were  annoying,  by  telling  them 
that  the  bears  would  hear  them  and  come  and  carry  them  away 
into  the  woods  and  devour  them.  And  I  think  it  safe  to  say 
that  some  who  take  part  in  this  anniversary  may  have  been 
told  that  story.  Not  many  Indians  inhabited  this  territory  at 
that  time.  The  Stebbins  History  says  but  one.  But  I  have 
learned  from  two  independent  sources,  that  a  family,  or  several 
Indians,  lived  about  a  half  mile  west  of  our  West  Street,  and 
about  midway  between  our  Springfield  Street  and  the  Peggy's 
Dipping  Hole  Road,  at  a  place  still  known  as  Indian  Rock, 
(there  is  a  lane  or  cart  path,  running  north  and  south,  now  con- 
necting those  two  roads),  and  that  some  of  those  Indians  fre- 
quently came  over  into  the  village,  to  Charles  Brewer's  tavern, 
to  procure  supplies,  and  possibly  some  of  the  white  man's  fire- 
water. 

Dr.  Merrick  says  in  his  address,  delivered  here  in  May,  1831, 
"I  have  been  told  by  the  first  settlers  that  when  they  were  boys, 
the  place  was  covered  with  them,"  (Indians)  "but  I  have  no 
idea  that  they  were  ever  by  any  means  so  populous  as  we  are." 
Still,  there  must  have  been  a  large  number  of  Indians  here  at 
some  time,  or  they  must  have  dwelt  here  for  a  long  time.  The 
thousands  of  stone  implements,  spears,  arrow  heads,  axes,  hoes, 
hatchets  and  soapstone  dishes  which  have  been  found  in  these 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  21 

fields,  and  many  which  must  still  remain,  will  substantiate  that 
statement.  One  Indian  squaw  lived  alone  in  her  wigwam  by  a 
little  brook,  some  fifty  or  eighty  rods  southeasterly  of  the 
present  residence  of  Mr.  Bolles,  and  that  fact  gave  the  name 
to  "Wigwam  Hill,"  on  which  his  house  stands,  and  where  the 
first  meeting-house  and  parsonage  were  erected.  I  have 
gathered  from  the  traditions  of  the  first  minister's  family,  that 
her  name  was  We-sha-u-gan,  and  that  she  was  sometimes 
invited  to  take  dinner  with  the  minister's  family,  and  that  once 
she  invited  them  to  come  and  have  dinner  with  her.  Before 
accepting  the  invitation,  the  minister's  wife  felt  a  little  anxiety 
to  know  what  she  intended  to  have  for  dinner.  She  approached 
the  subject  in  a  round-about  way,  and  the  Indian  woman  told 
her  she  had  caught  a  nice  fat  skunk  for  roasting,  and  she  wished 
them  to  taste  the  cooking  of  Weshaugan.  To  partake  of  such 
a  dinner  was,  of  course,  out  of  the  question.  But  Mrs.  Merrick 
did  not  wish  to  hurt  the  old  squaw's  feelings,  and  so  she  told  her, 
in  as  kindly  a  way  as  she  could,  that  while  it  was  perfectly 
proper  for  the  Indian  woman  to  eat  at  the  minister's  table, 
his  position  would  not  permit  him  to  eat  at  hers.  Doubt- 
less the  disappointed  woman  went  down  to  her  wig^vam,  by 
the  little  rivulet,  wondering  at  the  strange  fancies  of  white 
folks. 

In  his  History  Dr.  Stebbins  says  of  her:  "Alone,  the  last  of 
that  mysterious  race  who  had  chased  the  deer  over  these  fields, 
trapped  the  beaver  in  these  streams,  speared  the  salmon  in 
these  rivers,  enjoyed  the  freedom  of  these  hills,  kindled  their 
evening  fires  by  these  springs,  and,  as  they  smoked  their  pipe, 
beheld  the  western  sky  lighting  up  when  the  sun  went  down,  as 
if  with  the  smile  of  the  Great  Spirit  and  of  the  heroes  who  had 
fallen  in  battle,  and  buried  their  kindred  under  these  trees,  she 
lived  solitary,  the  curiosity  of  the  early  settlers,  harmless,  quiet, 
meditative,  seldom  entering  any  dwelling,  and  providing  for 
her  own  wants.  At  last  even  she  disappeared.  Of  the  manner 
of  her  death,  or  of  her  burial-place,  no  man  knoweth.  She 
passed  away,  as  a  shadow  of  the  vanished  race,  '  the  hunter  and 
the  deer  a  shade,'  in  the  land  of  the  sunset,  beyond  the  western 


22  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

hills  which  she  had  so  often  seen  empurpled  at  eventide."  A 
poem,  entitled  "Minneola,"  published  in  1905,  represents  that 
ancient  woman,  realizing  "that  the  morning  will  soon  dawn 
when  she  will  not  see  its  sunrise,"  telling  the  story  of  her  people 
to  a  white  hunter  who  had  given  her  some  game,  and  telling 
him  how,  when  the  others  of  her  tribe  had  trailed  away  towards 
the  sunset,  she  had  remained  here,  to  care  for  her  blind  and 
helpless  father.  And  the  author  closes  the  story  with  this 
tribute  to  the  old  Indian  squaw. 

Weshaugan!  Weshaugan! 
Thrice  a  thousand  moons  have  risen 

Since  you  heard  the  voice  of  duty 
Sounding  in  your  heart  from  heaven ; 

Since  you  stifled  love  and  longing. 
Since  you  slew  desire,  ambition. 

To  become  a  household  angel 
Unto  one  of  earth's  afflicted; 

And  the  action  is  recorded. 
When  the  seals  of  time  are  broken. 

And  the  Great  Book  lies  wide  open. 
And  the  deeds  of  earth  are  spoken, 

We  may  hear  the  Herald  calling, 
' '  Come  up  higher !    Come  up  higher ! 

Weshaugan !     Weshaugan ! ' ' 

When  I  was  a  child,  my  great-aunt  [Mrs.  Gideon  Kibbe], 
told  me  an  experience  of  her  mother  [perhaps  her  grandmother], 
when  she  was  a  child  of  about  eight  or  ten  years  of  age,  probably 
about  1740,  or  1750.  She  was  riding  on  a  sled  with  her  father, 
mother  and  other  children  near  the  close  of  a  winter  day,  and 
they  saw,  a  short  distance  in  front,  three  Indians  come  out  of 
the  woods  and  stop  in  the  road.  The  hearts  of  the  children 
sank  down  into  their  little  shoes  as  they  cowered  under  the 
blankets,  but  the  father  drove  right  on  to  where  the  Indians 
were  standing  in  the  snow  by  the  side  of  the  road,  and  each  was 
holding  out  his  hand  saying,  "tobac,"  "tobac,"  "tobac."  In 
a  sermon  some  thirty  years  ago,  our  Pastor  said,  "Tobacco  is 
good — to  kill  flies."    [We  have  the  same  Pastor  now.] 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


23 


An  account  of  the  occupation  of  this  territory  by  the  Indians 
would  be  incomplete  without  mentioning  the  soapstone  dishes, 
and  fragments  of  dishes,  which  have  been  found  in  considerable 
numbers,  and  for  a  long  time,  in  the  eastern  part  of  our 
town. 

About  ten  years  ago,  the  place  where  those  dishes  were  made 
was  discovered.  It  is  about  a  mile,  perhaps  a  little  more, 
northerly  of  the  Glendale  Meeting-House,  and  about  one-fourth 


SOAPSTONE  BOULDER. 
From  which  the  Indians  made  soapstone  dishes. 


of  a  mile  easterly  of  the  East  road,  or  street,  and  just  beyond  a 
little  brook  running  southerly  through  the  swampy  land  there. 
The  dishes  were  evidently  made  from  some  soapstone  boulders, 
probably  deposited  in  the  glacial  period,  and  the  tools  were 
pieces  of  trap-rock,  probably  procured  from  the  Holyoke  range 
of  mountains.  It  must  have  been  a  slow,  tedious  process,  which 
we  cannot  very  well  understand,  any  more  than  we  can  tell  how 
those  strange  people  made  the  arrow  and  spear  heads  which 
besprinkle  our  fields.     About  1890,  there  were  discovered,  on 


24  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

the  top  of  the  first  hill,  at  the  north  edge  of  our  center  village, 
near  the  present  home  of  Wm.  H.  McGuire,  and  about  ten  or 
fifteen  rods  west  of  our  Main  Street,  three  Indian  fireplaces,  in 
a  triangular  position,  about  twenty  feet  apart.  They  were 
made  of  stones,  none  larger  than  a  person's  head,  laid  together, 
so  as  to  form  a  circular  wall,  leaving  a  space  in  the  center  about 
twenty  inches  across,  and  about  eight  or  ten  inches  deep. 
Two  of  them  had  been  disturbed  by  the  farmers'  plows,  but  one 
was  enough  below  the  present  surface  of  the  ground  so  that  it 
had  not  been  injured.  It  was  well  filled  with  the  ashes  of  many 
fires,  and  the  soil  within  the  others  was  blackened  by  the  same 
cause.  There  are  other  places  in  town,  which,  when  plowed, 
show  where  similar  fires  have  burned,  "When  the  smoke  from 
many  wigwams,  Oft  ascended  at  the  sunset." 

But  the  control,  or  occupation  of  this  territory  by  the  red 
men  was  practically  ended.  The  land  in  the  Outward  Com- 
mons had  been  allotted  to  the  125  proprietors  of  Springfield  in 
the  year  1684-85,  and  each  proprietor's  portion  had  been  defi- 
nitely fixed  by  the  survey  of  1726.  In  this  measurement  of 
the  width  of  the  lots,  the  surveyors  only  allowed  sixteen  feet 
to  the  rod.  Probably  fearing  that  in  measuring  off  125  lots 
they  might  gain  on  the  actual  distance.  The  survey  of  Roger 
Newbury  in  1729  fixed  the  western  bounds.  There  was  nothing 
to  hinder  the  enterprising  from  entering  in  and  taking  posses- 
sion of  the  Outward  Commons  of  Springfield. 

In  the  year  1727  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  purchased  part  of  the 
lots  drawn  by  John  Hitchcock,  No.  69  in  2nd  Division,  and 
No.  51  in  3rd  Division.  In  1728  Nathaniel  Warriner  purchased 
the  lots  in  each  Division  drawn  by  Thomas  Cooper,  which  are 
No.  119  in  2nd  Division  and  No.  11  in  3rd.  Each  lot  18  rods, 
7  feet,  3  inches  wide.  Also  the  34  part  of  Thomas  Merrick's  3 
allotments,  which  are  No.  106  in  2nd  Division  and  No.  46  in 
the  3rd.  The  34  part  of  each  lot  would  be  4  rods,  11  feet,  11 
inches  wide.  Also  the  34  part  of  the  lots  drawn  by  Thomas 
Swetman,  which  are  No.  62  in  2nd  Division  and  No.  33  in  the 
3rd.    The  34  part  of  each  lot  would  be  1  rod,  5  feet  wide. 

In   1744   Moses  Warriner,  brother  of  Nathaniel,   purchased 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


25 


lots  Nos.  15,  16,  17  and  18  in  the  3rd  Division.  The  entire 
width  of  the  four  lots  would  be  49  rods,  13  feet,  8  inches,  which 
would  make  about  399  acres.  But  as  each  rod  in  the  width  of 
the  lot  was  6  inches  short,  we  must  deduct  about  12  acres. 

In  1737  Samuel  Warner  purchased  the  easterly  part  of  lots 
Nos.  99,  100,  102,  105,  in  the  2nd  Division,  "Extending  westerly 


INDIAN   F!Ki;i'LACE. 


so  far  as  to  the  top  of  the  Mountain  to  a  small  Gutter  Running 
across  said  Lots  Whereabouts  there  is  a  Highway  Proposed  to 
be  laid  out."  At  another  time  he  purchased  "3^  of  the  width 
of  the  lot  granted  to  Widow  Riley."     (It  is  lot  No.  101.) 

In  1728  arid  the  ten  years  following,  David  Mirick  purchased 
lots  Nos.  99,  100,  y^  of  101,  Yi  of  104,  M  of  105,  106,  107,  108, 


26  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

109,  120.  Also  Nos.  12,  %  of  No.  28,  M  of  No.  65  in  the  2nd 
Division,  and  f  of  No.  4,  Nos.  8,  9,  12,  14,  43,  44,  and  \i  of 
No.  48,  in  the  3rd  Division. 

In  the  summer  of  1730,  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  years 
ago,  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  came  out  from  Springfield  Street,  and 
cleared  and  broke  up  two  acres  of  ground,  and  erected  a  log 
hut  on  the  west  side  of  our  present  Main  Street,  and  about  one- 
half  mile  south  of  our  center  village. 

After  sowing  his  two  acres  with  wheat,  Hitchcock  returned  to 
Springfield  Street  to  spend  the  winter  and  make  the  few  prepara- 
tions which  were  necessary  to  remove  his  wife,  whom  he  had 
married  that  year,  to  his  hut  by  the  "Mountains."  In  the 
following  spring.  May,  1731,  he  came  out  with  his  wife  to  his 
narrow  field  and  low  hut,  and  resided  here  a  full  year,  with  no 
neighbors  nearer  than  Springfield  Street,  nine  miles  away.  He 
planted  his  crops,  mowed  his  grass,  dried  and  stacked  his  hay, 
husked  and  stored  his  com  under  the  roof  of  his  cabin,  gathered 
his  wheat;  "and  when  the  long,  dark,  stormy  winter  evenings 
came,  he  was  solaced  with  the  music  of  his  wife's  song,  and  the 
voice  of  his  child,  and  the  crackling  of  the  fire  in  his  great  open 
fireplace."  "At  last  the  spring  opened,  and  not  only  the  robins 
and  the  bluebirds  returned,  but  what  was  better  for  him  and  for 
Hannah,  his  wife,  Noah  Alvord  came  and  settled  on  the  east 
side  of  the  street,"  about  40  rods  to  the  south,  where  Mr. 
Calkins  lives  now. 

The  report  of  the  land  was  good;  and  the  next  year,  1733, 
Daniel  Warner  came  and  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  street, 
five  or  six  rods  north  of  the  lane,  which,  when  I  was  a  boy,  used 
to  be  called  Federal  Lane.  The  place  is  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Mary  (Howard)  Green.  And  the  next  year,  1734,  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Warriner,  afterwards  a  prominent  citizen,  the  donor 
of  the  ministry  and  school-fund,  located  on  the  west  side  of 
the  street,  about  20  rods  north  of  Hitchcock,  at  the  house 
recently  sold  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  to  Thomas  H.  Nims. 

"Of  these  four  earliest  settlers  no  descendant  remained  in 
town  in  1863.  Nathaniel  Warriner  had  no  children.  Of  Noah 
Alvord's  four  children,  none  had  children,  and  the  descendants 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  27 

of  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  and  of  Daniel  Warner  all  left  the  town 
years  ago."  It  is  possible  that  some  other  settlers  may  have 
come  before  1734.  Moses  Burt,  an  industrious  weaver  and 
reed-maker,  purchased  the  land  where  the  stone  house  is,  in 
1733.  Samuel  Warner,  and  his  father  Ebenezer,  settled  on 
the  west  side  of  main  street,  where  my  home  now  is,  in  1733 
or  1734.  I  have  not  found  that  Samuel  Warner  was  ever 
elected  Precinct  or  Town  Clerk,  but  he  kept  the  record  of 
births  and  deaths  in  the  ' '  East  or  fourth  Precinct  of  Spring- 
field" for  almost  fifty  years.  The  record  is  still  in  existence. 
The  first  entry  was  made  "March  y^  IS^*"  1734,"  the  last, 
August  28,  1783.  For  forty-nine  years  and  five  months,  the 
faithful  "Clark,"  as  he  was  called,  performed  his  labor  of 
love,  and  12  days  after  the  last  entry,  he  laid  down  his  pen 
forever. 

The  Town  Clerk  at  that  time,  Mr.  James  Warriner,  made 
the  following  entry,  which  closes  the  record  which  Samuel 
Warner  had  kept  for  so  many  years.  "Samuel  Warner  Who 
had  the  title  of  a  Clark  Dyed  10th  day  of  September  1783,  at 
Hancock:  70:  miles  from  home,  at  his  Daughter  Rhoda'^  for 
a  visit,  near  the  warm  pool,  and  was  brought  home  to  be  buried 
by  his  Desire,  when  he  lay  upon  his  Dying  bed — aged  75  years, 
wanting  one  month  4  days." 

About  1734,  Samuel  Stebbins  settled  on  the  first  road  leading 
up  the  mountain,  north  of  our  present  south  boundary,  on  the 
easterly  side  of  Main  Street.  This  road  runs  easterly  for  about 
one-third  of  a  mile,  then  turns  and  runs  nearly  due  south  for 
perhaps  one-fourth  of  a  mile,  then  turns  easterly,  and  continues 
on  up  the  mountain  to  the  ridge  road,  to  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Burleigh  place. 

Samuel  Stebbins  built  his  house  near  where  the  road  turns 
from  its  southerly  to  the  easterly  course,  probably  a  little 
south  of  what  was  the  Foskit  place  a  few  years  ago;  where 
Mr.  Richards  lived  fifty  years  ago.  I  find  it  very  unsatisfactory 
to  locate  places  where  "somebody  lives  now."  It  will  answei^ 
very  well  for  to-day,  but  fifty  years  hence  it  will  not  be  very 


4 


0^    y/Vpw/"/" 


'^ 


'.<  i'^-^M^^ 


Vi^^*^^|f^ 


■'T-FtrH^^' 


^^    /tr^    W^^^.^/ 


wr^ 


k\  4^t^<^^*'^    W  ^  -^i^V^  qJ^  /ycrt^ 


copy  OF  FIRST  PAGE  oF  THE  ■■CLARK" 


WAR.VER  RECORD 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  29 

definite.  I  intend  to  call  this  road,  for  its  entire  length,  on  both 
sides  of  our  Main  Street,  Stebbins  Road,  in  remembrance  of 
this  first  settler  in  that  locality.  Nathaniel  Bliss  soon  settled 
on  the  east  side  of  this  road,  a  little  north  of  Stebbins,  where 
Mr.  Powers  now  lives,  and  a  little  later  Philip  Lyon  located  a 
little  north  of  Mr.  Bliss,  where  Mr.  Lines  lives  now. 

I  think  there  have  never  been  any  other  places  settled  on  that 
road,  east  of  Main  Street.  David  Merrick  built  his  house  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  Street,  near  the  brook  which  crosses  the 
street,  which  I  will  call  Merrick  Brook.  There  he,  and  his 
descendants,  lived  for  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  years,  until 
about  twenty  years  ago,  when  the  place  was  sold  to  Mr.  M.  C. 
Wade  who  lives  there  now.  Abel  Bliss  located  on  the  Ridge 
Road  about  twenty  or  thirty  rods  south  of  where  the  Old  Bay 
Road  branched  off  to  the  eastward.  Daniel  Lamb,  on  the  Bay 
Road  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  Outward  Commons ;  Thomas 
Merrick,  father  of  the  young  man  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake, 
immortalized  in  song,  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  about 
twenty  or  thirty  rods  north  of  the  present  south  boundary  of 
our  town,  where  Mr.  Walter  Bliss  lives.  David  Warriner  on  the 
west  side  of  Main,  and  the  south  side  of  Faculty  Streets,  about 
where  the  north  end  of  the  Academy  Boarding  House  is. 
Isaac  Brewer  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  eight  or  ten  rods 
south  of  Springfield  Street.  He  and  his  descendants  occupied 
the  place  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  years  until  1898, 
when  it  was  sold  to  Mrs.  Gumey,  who  lives  there  now.  Moses 
Bartlett  on  the  Ridge  Road,  near  where  the  present  highway, 
which  leads  off  from  the  Main  Street,  just  south  of  the  Stone 
Church,  enters  that  road,  and  about  where  the  old  stone 
chimney  is  now  standing.  I  desire  to  name  this  road,  which 
leads  up  the  mountain  at  this  point,  "Watikegan's  Trail,"  in 
remembrance  of  those  earlier  inhabitants  who  have  lived,  and 
loved,  and  died  here.  (A  story  of  those  ancient  people  in  this 
vicinity,  written  a  few  years  ago,  represents  their  pioneer, 
"  Waukegan,"  as  having  come  down  the  mountain  at  that  place.) 
David  Chapin  settled  over  the  mountain  near  the  present 
Ridge  Road.     So  far  as   I   have  learned  there  were  no   set- 


30  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

tiers  in  the  south  part  of  the  Outward  Commons  previous  to 
1741.  "Few  and  scattered  as  the  inhabitants  were,  they  were 
not  indifferent  to  the  education  of  their  children.  As  early  as 
1737  the  town  of  Springfield  appropriated  three  pounds  for  the 
support  of  a  school  in  the  "outward  commons  on  the  east  side." 
The  Stebbins  History  says,  "there  were  then,  as  nearly  as  I 
can  ascertain,  but  eleven  families."  The  same  amount  was 
appropriated  the  following  year.  "In  1739,  the  sum  was 
increased  to  four  pounds,  and  in  1740  to  six  pounds."  "The 
Testament  was  the  text -book  in  schools,  as  well  as  the  oracle  in 
the  church.  Dilworth's  spelling-book  was  the  guide  in  spell- 
ing." Of  geograph}'-  nothing  was  taught;  of  arithmetic  but 
little.  Writing  received  more  attention,  but  the  means  of 
education  were  very  scant  at  the  best.  During  the  first  ten 
years,  1731  to  January  1,  1741,  there  were  thirty-eight  children 
bom.  The  first  one  recorded  is  "Comfort  Warner,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Warner  and  Jerusha  Warner,  his  wife,  was  bom  Mar. 
15,  1734."  The  first  death  recorded  is  that  of  "David  Jones, 
son  of  David  and  Hannah  Jones  died  Aug.  19,  1736.  Burried 
at  vSpringfield."  Dr.  Merrick  says  in  his  address,  that  the 
father  did  not  want  his  child  to  be  the  first  tenant  of  the 
Burying  Ground.  Two  other  deaths  occurred  before  1741,  and 
both  were  interred  at  Springfield.  The  first  tenant  of  the 
Burying  Ground,  now  called  Deacon  Adams  Cemetery,  was 
"Widow  Elizabeth  Cockril  who  Dyed  Apr.  26th  1741.  She  was 
the  first  person  y*^  was  Bured  in  y^  mountains."  Dr.  Merrick 
says  of  this  incident:  "In  April  1741,  Elizabeth  Cockrel  of 
Boston  on  a  visit  to  her  sister,  who  was  Samuel  Warner's  wife, 
sickened  and  died  here.  Mr.  Warner  buried  her  here,  and 
though  he  was  not  a  stone  man  (stone  cutter)  he  got  two  flat 
stones  and  engraved  her  name,  the  time  of  her  death,  and 
that  it  was  the  first  grave.  Though  I  knew  of  the  stones, 
they  were  so  covered  with  moss  that  they  could  not  be  read. 
I  got  the  moss  scraped  off  and  pointed  (?)  so  that  now  it  is 
legible." 

The  stones  are  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  old  bur^-ing 
ground,  and  are  lettered  as  follows: 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


31 


E.   C.     IS 

the      FlrST 

THAT    IS 
LAId     HEAR 


H  e  A  r       Lys       the 
Body  oF  ELisAb 
eth    Coc  k  ril  Wo 
Dyed  ApHL  y^  26 
1741     EAG     39 


"Those  early  pioneers  were  hardy  and  industrious,  and 
prosperity,  such  as  they  sought,  as  bounteous  as  they  expected, 
was  their  reward;  and  eminently  was  fulfilled  to  every  house- 
holder the  promise  of  the  Psalmist,  'Thy  wife  shall  be  as  a 
fruitful  vine  by  the  sides  of  thine  house ;  thy  children  like  olive- 
plants  round  about  thy  table.' 

"Such  was  the  condition  of  the  settlement  in  the  'outward 
commons'  at  the  close  of  ten  years.  Twenty-four  families,  or 
twenty-six,  scattered  over  a  territory  of  about  four  miles  square, 
possessing  only  the  barest  comforts  of  life,  include  all  the  popu- 
lation. Most  of  their  houses  were  probably  framed,  the  saw- 
mill at  Sixteen  Acres  supplying  sawed  lumber,  but  they  were 
poorly  finished,  scantily  glazed,  and  meagerly  furnished,  and 
rarely  even  plastered.  Their  fields  were  still  narrow,  and  but 
insecurely  fenced.  The  wild  animals  shared  their  scant  harvest. 
They  were  far  from  store  and  mill.  They  had  no  roads  for 
wheel-carriages,  nor  any  conveyances  of  this  kind,  even  if  there 
had  been  roads. 


32  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

' '  They  were  religious  men  and  women ;  and  the  way  was  long 
and  difficult  to  the  first  parish  meeting-house.  The  sun  smote 
them  in  summer,  snow  and  ice  blocked  their  path  in  winter. 
When  the  vSunday  morning  came,  some  on  horseback,  their 
wives  on  the  pillions  behind,  and  the  baby  on  the  pommel  before, 
and  some  on  foot,  started  in  the  early  morning  for  the  meeting- 
house, nine  miles  away,  by  way  of  Pole  Bridge  Brook,  over 
Stony  Hill,  along  the  Usquaick,  or  Mill  River,  at  Sixteen  Acres, 
and  entering  the  Bay  Road  near  Goose  Pond"  (now  Win- 
chester Park).  "The  young  men  and  maidens,  for  reasons 
easily  divined,  preferred  to  walk  even  when  there  was  no  neces- 
sity; and  it  is  reported,  not  slanderously  it  is  to  be  presumed, 
that  the  way  seemed  all  too  short  to  Zion,  and  all  the  more  lovely 
because  so  few  went  up  to  her  solemn  feasts." 

On  a  Sabbath  morning  in  winter,  in  that  long  ago,  it  is  told 
how  a  certain  Miss  Peggy,  clad  in  her  "Sabba  day"  fixings  and 
finery,  mounted  her  horse  and  started  for  the  distant  sanctuary, 
passing  along  the  highway  which  leads  off  to  the  westward 
from  our  West  Street  about  midway  between  Springfield  Street 
and  Ludlow  village.  While  crossing  a  shallow  marsh,  over 
which  the  trail  led,  the  thin  ice  broke  under  the  combined 
weight  and  the  horse,  the  fixings,  the  finery,  and — Miss  Peggy, 
were  all  dipped  in  the  freezing  water.  The  place  has  since 
been  known  as  "Peggy's  Dipping  Hole."  The  marsh,  of 
some  four  or  five  acres,  was  drained  about  thirty-five  years 
ago,  and  nowadays,  in  the  good  old  summer  time,  the  clatter  of 
the  mowing  machine  is  heard,  where  then  the  screams  of  Miss 
Peggy  resounded.  For,  of  course,  she  must  have  screamed, 
when  she  saw  that  all  of  her  fixings  and  finery  were  ruined. 

The  way  to  Zion,  by  way  of  Springfield,  seemed  long  and 
difficult,  and  the  elders  wearied  of  the  way.  "The  briers  were 
sharp,  the  swamps  were  miry,  the  fords  insecure,  the  storms 
were  drenching.  Their  souls  longed  for  the  courts  of  the  Lord. 
They  had  enjoyed  the  blessing  of  the  preached  word  in  their 
homes  on  a  few  occasions,  and  it  was  pleasant  to  their  souls. 
They  cherished  tenderly,  yet  timidly,  the  desire  to  establish  the 
'means  of  grace'  in  their  own  settlement."  They  talked  over 
the  subject  in  their  families,  and  when  the}'  met  by  the  way. 


The  HivStory  of  Wilbraham  33 

"At  last,  Hitchcock  and  Warriner  and  Bliss  and  Burt  and 
Brewer  and  Stebbins,  and  the  rest,  met,  we  may  suppose,  at 
Merrick's  house,  in  the  midst  of  winter,  and  talked  the  matter 
over,  before  the  great  fireplace.  They  are  few,  they  are  poor; 
they  are  not  famous.  But  they  loved  the  sanctuary  and  the 
ordinances  of  religion.  They  have  faith  in  endeavor.  They 
resolve  to  try  the  heart  of  the  bretheren  in  the  first  parish,  at 
Springfield  Street,  and  of  Longmeadow,  incorporated  as  a  pre- 
cinct in  1713,  and  see  if  they  would  consent  to  their  being 
set  off  as  a  separate  precinct,  and  aid  their  petition  to  the 
provincial  government  to  that  end,  so  that  there  may  no 
longer  be  a  'dearth  of  the  word  of  the  Lord'  on  the  'Moun- 
tains.' 

Their  petition  was  favorably  received  by  Longmeadow, 
and  it  was  voted,  March  10,  1740,  that  "the  outward  com- 
mons of  Springfield,  be  set  off  for  the  benefit  of  the  gospel 
ministry." 

The  first  precinct  passed  a  similar  vote  March  21.  The 
"Outward  Commoners"  take  courage,  draw  up  a  paper  em- 
powering their  agents,  and  certifying  to  their  authority  and 
responsibility,  and  send  up  their  petition,  signed  in  their  behalf 
by  Thomas  Merrick  2d,  and  Abel  Bliss. 

The  following  is  the  appointment  of  "Thomas  Merrick  2d 
and  Abel  Bliss  to  Prefer  a  Petition  to  the  General  Court  to  be 
set  off  as  a  Precinct." 


"We  the  Subscribers  who  are  settlers  on  the  Lands  Called  the 
Outward  Commons  Dwelling  Some  in  the  Second  and  Some  in 
the  Third  Divisions  of  the  Said  Comons  In  Springfield  on  the 
East  Side  of  Connecticutt  River  do  Hereby  appoint  and  Im- 
power  Thomas  Mirick  2d  &  Abel  Bliss  Settlers  on  the  said 
Place  to  Prefer  a  Petition  to  the  next  General  Court  that  we 
with  our  Lands  and  theirs  together  with  all  the  Lands  within 
Said  Divisions  being  In  the  whole  in  length  Eight  Miles  and  in 
weadth  four  Miles  May  be  Set  off  a  Separate  and  Distinct 
Precinct  and  that  all  the  Lands  Lying  in  said  Divisions  may  be 
taxed  at  Such  Rate  as  the  General  Court  shall  think  Proper 
the  better  to  Enable  them  to  Settle  a  Minister  Build  a  Meeting 


34  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

House  and  other  Publick  charges  that  so  we  may  be  Enabled 
to  Maintain  the  Gospel  among  us. 
Witness  our  Hands  May  7th  1740. 

Joseph  Sikes  David  Mirick 

Daniel  Lamb  David  Warriner 

Daniel  Parsons  David  Jones 

Benjamin  Wright  Isaac  Brewer 

Henry  Wright  Samuel  Warner  2^ 

Thomas  Glover  Aaron  Parsons 

Cornelius  Weeb  Nathaniel  Hitchcock 

Daniel  Warner  Nathaniel  Warriner 

Moses  Bartlett  Nathaniel  Bliss  2'^ 

Noah  Alvord  Benjamin  Warriner 

Samuel  Stebbins  Jr.  Samuel  Bartlit 

David  Chapin  Jr.  Moses  Burt." 


"There  are  twenty-four  of  these  subscribers.  Adding  the 
names  of  Thomas  Mirick  2'^  and  Abel  Bliss,  (committee)  signed 
to  the  Petition,  the  whole  number  is  twenty-six."  These  names 
differ  from  those  given  in  Dr.  Merrick's  address.  The  Stebbins 
History  says  they  were  copied  from  the  Records  of  the  General 
Court  in  the  ofhce  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

The  Petition  of  Thomas  Mirick  2"^,  and  Abel  Bliss  is  as 
follows : 

"To  his  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq.  Captain  General 
and  Govemour  in  Chief  in  and  over  His  Majestys  Province  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  To  the  hon-oble  His  Majestys  Council 
and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled  at 
Boston  May  A.  D.  1740. 

"The  Petition  of  Abel  Bliss  and  Thomas  Mirick  second  for 
themselves  and  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants  settled  at  the 
mountains  So  called  at  the  east  side  of  the  great  river  in  Spring- 
field on  the  land  called  the  Outward  Commons,  being  the  second 
and  third  divisions  of  said  Commons 

"Humbly  Sheweth  that  your  Pef^  live  nine  miles  from  the 
said  Town  of  Springfield,  which  distance  makes  it  very  incon- 
venient for  them  to  attend  Publick  Worship  of  God  especially, 
in  the  winter  season,  that  they  cant  attend  the  Service  and 
Duties  of  Gods  House  as  they  ought,  by  reason  of  the  badness 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  35 

of  the  weather,  which  makes  the  roads  very  bad  and  renders 
them  almost  impossible  to  travel  in, 

"That  the  land  lying  in  the  Second  and  Third  Divisions  of 
the  S'^  outward  commons  being  in  length  north  and  South  eight 
miles  and  east  and  west  four  miles  are  very  convenient  and 
Commodious  for  a  Precinct  which  your  pef^  are  very  desirous 
of,  for  the  building  of  a  meeting  house  for  the  Public  worship  of 
God  in  the  said  Precinct  that  so  they  may  attend  the  Dutys 
and  Service  of  God's  House  seasonably  and  constantly  as  they 
ought  to  do. 

"And  your  Pet"  would  suggest  to  3^our  Excellency  and 
Honours  That  the  first  Parish  and  Longmeadow  Parish  in  S*^ 
Springfield  whereto  they  belong  voted  their  consent  that  your 
Pef^  should  be  set  off  a  separate  Precinct  from  the  said 
Parishes. 

' '  And  therefore  your  Pef^  humbly  pray  that  your  Excellency 
and  Honours  would  be  pleased  to  set  them  off  and  also  to  set 
off  all  those  Lands  which  lye  in  the  Second  and  Third  Divisions 
of  the  said  outward  Commons  being  in  length  north  and  south 
eight  miles,  and  east  and  west  four  miles  a  Separate  Precinct, 
and  grant  unto  them  all  such  powers  and  libertys  priviledges 
and  Immunity s  as  other  Precincts  have  and  enjoy  with  and 
under  such  restrictions  and  limitations  as  your  Excellency  and 
Honours  shall  deem  meet;  and  that  all  the  lands  lying  within 
the  limits  aforesaid  may  be  taxed  further  to  enable  your  Pet" 
to  settle  a  minister  &c  for  such  term  of  time,  and  at  such  rate 
as  your  Excellency  and  Honours  shall  think  proper. 

"And  your  Pet"  (as  in  Duty  bound)  shall  ever  pray. 

Thomas  Mirick  2^ 
Abel  Bliss." 


Thus  pathetically  and  hopefully  did  they  send  up  their 
prayer  to  those  in  authority. 

Their  petition  was  received  by  the  House  of  Representatives, 
June  26,  1740,  and  it  was  "Ordered  that  the  petitioners  serve 
the  non-resident  proprietors  of  land  with  a  copy  of  this  Petition, 
by  posting  the  same  at  the  town-house  in  Springfield,  and  by 
inserting  it  in  one  of  the  Public  Newspapers,  that  they  may 
show  cause  (if  any  they  have)  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  the  next 
session  of  this  Court,  why  the  Prayer  thereof  should  not  be 


36  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

granted."     The  petition  was  concurred  in  by  the  council,  and 
on  the  next  day,  June  27,  it  was  consented  to  by  the  governor. 

At  the  next  session,  January  2,  1741,  the  petition  was  taken 
up  by  the  House  "and  it  appearing  that  the  non-resident  Pro- 
prietors have  been  sufficiently  notified,  but  no  answer  given  in, 
Ordered  that  the  Prayers  of  the  Petition  be  so  far  granted  as 
that  the  Petitioners  Together  with  all  the  lands  petitioned  for 
lying  southward  of  the  River  called  Chicuepe  River  running 
Easterly  and  Westerly  through  the  said  Second  Division  of  said 
Commons  be  erected  into  a  Separate  and  distinct  Precinct  and 
that  they  be  vested  with  all  the  Powers  liberties  Privilidges 
and  immunities  as  other  Precincts  hold  and  Enjoy  and  that  all 
the  lands  Petitioned  lying  Southward  of  the  River  as  aforesaid 
be  subjected  to  a  tax  of  two  pence  old  tenor  Bills  p"^  acre  p"" 
annum  for  the  space  of  Four  years  Next  Coming  the  money 
arising  thereby  to  be  applyed  for  the  building  of  a  Meeting  house 
Settlement  and  support  of  the  Ministry  among  them."  This 
Order  was  concurred  in  by  the  council  January  5,  and  was 
consented  to  on  January  6,  1741,  by  Jonathan  Belcher,  Gov- 
ernor, and  the  "Outward  Commons  on  the  East  Side  of  the 
Great  River,"  or  "Mountanes  of  Springfield,"  became  the 
"fourth  precinct  of  Springfield." 

"There  was  joy  in  those  households  when  the  success  of  their 
petition  was  known,  and  more  than  one  man  called  upon  his 
neighbor  to  bless  the  Lord  for  his  kindness  to  them. 

"The  ax  was  plied  more  vigorously,  and  the  winter  fires 
bumed  more  cheerily  because  the  ark  of  the  Lord  was  to  be  set 
up  among  them." 

On  January  3,  1739,  Springfield  "Granted  to  y*^  People  of  y^ 
mountains  for  y^  procuring  preaching  10  Sabbaths  Twenty 
shillings  p''  Sabbath  provided  they  do  not  exceed  Teen  Sab- 
baths." On  December  12,  1739,  and  on  December  9,  1740, 
twenty  shillings  per  Sabbath  were  granted  for  each  Sabbath, 
provided  they  do  not  exceed  twelve  Sabbaths,  to  be  paid  to 
David  Mirick  as  it  becomes  due. 

"For  three  winters,   therefore,  our  fathers  were  saved  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  37 

painful  journey,  in  cold  and  snow,  of  nine  miles,  to  hear  preach- 
ing." If  there  is  any  record  of  who  preached  for  them,  the 
papers  of  David  Mirick  must  contain  it.  (Some  of  those  papers 
are  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Myron  Bruuer.) 

The  first  warrant  for  a  precinct  meeting  was  issued  February 
13,  1741,  by  W'".  Pynchon  Esq.,  "one  of  his  Majastes  Justeses 
of  the  Peace  for  Hampshire  County,"  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  War- 
riner,  "upon  application  made  by  Nathaniel  Bliss  2"^,  Sam'' 
Stebbins  Junr.,  Samuel  Warner  2"^,  Noah  Alvard  and  Nathaniel 
Warriner,"  requiring  him  "to  Notifie  the  Freeholders  and  other 
inhabitants  of  said  Precinct  Qualified  to  voat  in  town  affairs, 
that  they  meet  and  assemble  togeather  att  the  Dwelling  House 
of  David  Mirick  in  said  Precinct  on  the  second  Thursday 
[the  12th  day]  of  March  next  att  one  o  clock  afternoon." 

The  meeting  was  held  at  the  place  specified,  and  was  organized 
by  the  choice  of  "William  Pynchon  Esq.  Moderator.  David 
Mirick  was  chosen  Clerk  and  sworn.  Thomas  Mirick  2*^, 
Isaac  Brewer,  Nathaniel  Warriner,  Committee  of  the  Precinct 
for  the  year  ensuing.  Isaac  Brewer,  Treasurer,  sworn;  David 
Mirick,  Thomas  Mirick  2'^,  Samuel  Stebbins,  chosen  Assessors, 
sworn.  Nathaniel  Warriner,  chosen  Collector,  sworn."  Thus 
the  precinct  was  organized,  and  it  is  voted,  that  "the  annual 
meeting  for  the  choice  of  precinct  officers  shall  be  y^  second 
Wednesday  of  March  annually." 

Six  different  meetings  are  held  before  the  first  day  of  June, 
to  agree  upon  a  minister  and  arrange  his  settlement  and  salary ; 
for  it  was  customary  at  that  time  to  pay  a  considerable  sum  to 
a  minister,  at  the  commencement  of  his  ministry,  called  a 
"settlement,"  in  addition  to  his  annual  salary.  At  the  first 
meeting,  held  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Isaac  Brewer,  March  25, 
1741,  called,  among  other  things,  to  see  "wheather  they  will 
give  the  worthy  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  a  call  in  order  to  settle  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  in  case  they  have  the  advice  of  the  neigh- 
boring ministers,"  they  chose  Joseph  Wright  and  Daniel 
Warner  a  committee  "to  make  application  to  three  neighboring 
ministers  in  behalf  of  said  precinct  for  advice  who  to  settle  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry, ' '  and  pending  the  procurement  of  this 


38  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

advice  they  voted  "to  hier  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  to  Preach  the 
word  of  God  to  them  three  Sabbaths  beginning  the  first  Sabbath 
in  April  next  ensuing."  Mr.  Mirick  had  been  preaching  to 
them  previously,  as  appears  by  subsequent  votes,  and  had 
preached  in  all  twenty  Sundays  before  his  ordination. 

They  also  direct  their  committee  to  "further  pursue  and 
execute  a  Deed  that  is  Given  of  the  Land  called  the  Overplus 
Land  given  to  the  first  settled  Orthodox  minister  of  this  Pre- 
cinct." This  overplus  land,  it  will  be  remembered,  consisted 
of  two  lots  four  miles  long  from  east  to  west,  the  one  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Second  Division  being  eighty-two  rods  wide, 
and  the  only  one  probably  which  was  deeded  to  the  first 
minister,  the  one  on  the  south  side  of  the  third  Division  being 
sixty-two  rods  wide.  This  land  was  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  original  proprietors.  Phineas 
Chapin  and  Samuel  Warner,  the  committee,  have  no  small 
labor  committed  to  them  to  hunt  up  these  heirs  and  obtain 
their  signatures  to  the  deed  of  conveyance. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Deed  of  the  overplus  land  of 
the  second  division  in  the  Outward  Commons.  Recorded  in 
Book  U,  page  96,  Registry  of  Deeds,  Hampden  County. 

"To  all  People  to  whom  These  presents  shall  come  Greeting. 
Whereas  There  is  a  Tract  of  Land  lying  and  being  in  the  Town- 
ship of  Springfield  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  and  province 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  new  England  In  the  second  or 
Middle  Division  of  the  outward  Commons  so  Called  on  the 
East  side  of  Connecticut  River  being  in  length  about  four 
Miles  and  in  Breadth  about  Sixty  rods  lying  on  the  Sowarly 
side  of  the  said  Middle  Division  and  adjoyning  to  the  third  or 
lower  Division  of  said  Commons  Called  overplus  land  which 
has  not  as  yet  been  Divided  and  alloted  to  the  Proprietors  or 
owners  of  the  Same  but  lyes  Common.  And  Whereas  there  is 
about  or  Near  Twenty  Families  already  settled  on  the  said 
Commons  southward  of  Chickabee  River,  and  tis  probable 
that  in  some  short  time  they  may  be  set  off  a  separate  and 
Distinct  Precinct.  And  in  Order  to  Encourage  the  same 
and  Especially  for  the  Encouragement  of  the  first  settled  and 
Orthodox  Minister  there  when  they  shall  be  set  off  a  Precinct. 
We  the  Subscribers  whose  hands  and  seals  are  hereto  affixed 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


39 


some  of  the  owners  and  Proprietors  of  the  Said  Tract  of  Land 
called  overplus  land  as  aforesaid  being  in  Breadth  about  Sixty 
rods  as  aforesaid  and  in  Length  Four  Miles.  For  the  Encour- 
agement of  the  First  Minister  of  the  Gospel  that  shall  be 
Ordained  and  Settled  at  the  said  place  when  they  shall  be  set 
of  a  seperate  and  Distinct  Precinct.  Do  hereby  Give  Grant 
Pass  over  Convey  &  Confirm  to  the  First  Orthodox  Ordained 
Minister  of  the  Gospel  that  shall  be  there  Ordained  and  Settled 
among  the  People  of  that  place  all  such  Right  Estate  Title 
Interest  proportion  and  Dividend  of  Land  whatsoever  which 
we  and  Each  of  us  Have  of  in  and  to  the  said  overplus  Land 
Described  as  aforesaid.  To  be  holden  by  him  his  Heirs  and 
assigns  to  his  and  their  own  use  benefit  &  benefit  and  behoof 
forever.  So  that  we  the  Subscribers  our  Heirs  and  assigns 
from  all  Right  Title  to  and  Interest  in  the  Premises  by  Means 
hereof  shall  be  Secluded  and  forever  Debarred,  Saving  only 
That  we  Reserve  Necessary^  Highways  through  the  same,  as 
also  so  Much  of  the  said  Land  as  shall  be  suitable  for  the  Place- 
ing  a  Meeting  House  on  and  for  a  Burying  Yard.  This  Deed 
not  to  Take  Effect  Except  the  Major  part  of  the  Proprietors 
in  the  s'^  overplus  land  sign  this  Deed  or  at  Least  so  many 
sign  as, to  convey  the  Major  part  of  it: 

"In  Testimony  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and 
affixed  our  Seals  this  Twenty  Second  Day  Febru''y  an.  no: 
Dom:  1739/40.  In  the  Thirteenth  year  of  his  Majesties  Reighn 
George  y^  2*^  King  &c — 


Signed  sealed  and  Delivered  in 
Presence  of 

The  first  nine  signed  in  pres- 
ence of  us  Luke  Bliss  Charles 
Brewer. 

The  Eight  following  the  first 
nine  signed  in  presence  of  us 
Noah  Hale  Benjamin  Woolcott 


John  Pynchon 
John  Burt 
Sam''  Leonard 
James  Warriner 


and  seal 
and  seal 
and  seal 
and  seal 


Henry  Burt  and  seal 

David  Mirick  and  seal 

Nath"  Warriner  and  seal 
Nathaniel  Hitchcock  and  seal 
John  Mun  and  seal 

Nathaniel  Bliss  and  seal" 


Seventy-five  different  persons  signed  the  Deed,  and  sixty- 
four  of  them  appeared,  at  seven  different  times,  before  Charles 
Pynchon,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  acknowledged  the  same, 
and  also  on  two  occasions,  before  W'".  Pynchon,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  for  the  same  purpose.    Several  of  the  signers  died  with- 


40  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

out  acknowledging  it,  and,  at  different  sessions  of  the  Court, 
two  persons  would  testify  that  they  were  present  and  saw  the 
deceased  person  sign  the  Deed.  All  of  which  is  recorded  with 
the  instrument. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Samuel  Warner  was  one  of  the 
committee,  chosen  by  the  precinct,  "to  further  pursue  and 
execute  a  Deed  that  is  Given  of  the  Land  called  the  Overplus 
Land"  etc. — ,  and  that  they  "shall  hier  a  Justice  Peace  to  take 
acknowledgements  of  the  same  att  the  Charge  of  the  Precinct." 

In  connection  with  this  subject,  I  have  found  among  the 
papers,  left  by  Samuel  Warner,  the  following: 

"1745,  Dec.  16.  Resaight 
^e"^  of  Samuel  Warner  20  shillings  old  ten''  in  full  for  taking 
sundry  acknowledgements  of  a  Deed  made  to  Mr.  Mirick 

Joseph  Pynchon" 

On  the  17th  of  April,  1741,  without  waiting  for  the  "advice 
of  three  neighboring  ministers,"  they  "unanimously  voated  a 
Call  or  Desire  that  the  Worthy  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  should  settle 
with"  them  "in  the  work  of  the  Ministry;"  They  also  chose 
Aaron  Stebbins  to  assist  Chapin  and  Warner  in  getting  "More 
Signers  to  a  Deed  of  the  overplus  Land  and  get  the  same 
acknolidged;"  and  to  "hier  Mr.  Mirick  Four  Sabbaths  more, 
if  he  Give  encouragement  to  settle."  The  meeting  was  adjourned 
to  the  24th  of  April,  and  at  that  meeting  they  chose  a  com- 
mittee of  five  to  "State,  Regulate  and  Draw  up  a  scheem 
Relating  to  the  Encouragement  of  Mr.  Mirick's  settling  with 
them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry." 

The  importance  of  securing  a  deed  of  the  "Overplus  Land" 
is  indicated  by  their  voting  that  their  committee  on  that  sub- 
ject, "shall  hier  a  Justice  Peace  to  take  acknowledgments  of 
the  same  att  the  Charge  of  the  Precinct."  They  then  adjourn 
to  the  "Eleventh  Day  of  May  next."  At  this  May  meeting 
the  committee  chosen  to  "Regulate  a  salary  to  ofer  to  Mr. 
Mirick"  make  their  report.  They  state  that  they  have  taken 
the  matter  into  serious  consideration,  and  that  they  find  "the 
money  or  Coin  in  this  Province  is  so  variable  and  uncertain  as 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  41 

to  its  value  in  Proportion  with  other  commodaties  that  they 
can't  think  it  a  medium  whereby  the  salary  can  be  settled  or 
ascertained  with  any  safety  or  security  either  to  the  Minister 
or  People."  "Wherefore,"  they  continue,  "we  have  considered 
the  value  or  Currant  Market  Price  of  the  several  Commodaties 
hereafter  mentioned,  Viz:  Indian  Com  att  6s.  per  booshel; 
Wheat,  lis.  per  booshel;  Rie,  8s.  6d.  per  booshel;  Barley.  8s. 
per  booshel;  Oats,  4s.  per  booshel;  Flax,  from  y^  swingle, 
Is.  6d.  per  pound;  Beaf,  5d.  per  pound."  They  further  recom- 
mend "that  Mr.  Mirick  be  Elowed  either  money  for  his  salary 
Bills  or  other  Commodaties  or  Considerations  Equal  to  One 
Hundred  Pound  a  year  for  the  first  four  years  of  his  being 
settled  and  after  the  fourth  year  to  Rise  five  Pounds  a  year  till 
his  sallary  amount  to  one  Hundred  and  forty  Pound  per  annum 
in  the  Currancy  above  said  so  long  as  he  continue  to  be  their 
minister."  They  further  recommend  that  a  committee  shall 
annually  agree  with  the  minister  upon  price,  "before  the  meet- 
ing for  Granting  Precinct  Charges,"  so  that  "the  sum  shall  be 
Equal  in  value  as  above  specified,  and  "that  the  whole  of  the 
salary  be  paid  in  by  the  Last  Day  of  March  Annually."  They 
also  suggest  "that  for  his  further  encouragement  he  have  the 
improvement  of  that  part  of  the  Ministry  Land  that  will  fall 
to  the  Ministry  of  this  Precinct." 

They  also  estimate,  "by  a  moderate  computation,"  that  the 
"Overplus  Land,"  of  which  they  are  obtaining  a  deed  for  the 
minister,  is  "worth  three  Hundred  Pounds,"  which  is  consid- 
ered, as  it  was,  a  generous  settlement.  They  conclude  their 
report  in  the  following  words :  ' '  and  for  the  further  encourage- 
ment of  Mr.  Mirick's  settling  with  us,  it  is  Proposed  that  we 
Cut  and  Boat  of  a  sufficient  Quantity  of  Rainging  Timber  for 
a  Dwelling  House  for  him  and  convey  the  same  to  the  Place 
where  he  shall  Determine  to  Erect  said  Building."  Such  is 
the  offer  which  these  twenty-two  or  twenty-four  landholders 
make  to  the  "worthy  Mr.  Mirick  to  settle"  with  them  in  the 
ministry.  The  meeting  "voated  that  the  same  be  Excepted, 
Granted  and  Elowed  in  the  value  maner  and  Proportion,  as  it 
is  expressed  and  set  forth  in  the  Report."    They  choose  a  com- 


42  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

mittee  to  "wait  upon  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  with  a  Copy  of  said 
Report  and  the  aforesaid  voat  for  his  Answer,"  and  adjourn  to 
the  "Eighteenth  Day"  of  the  month,  seven  days,  to  give  Mr. 
Merrick  time  to  consider  the  conditions  and  prepare  his  answer. 

To  us  of  the  present  day,  when  we  consider  the  smallness  of 
the  number  and  the  poorness  of  the  possessions  of  the  members 
of  the  precinct,  the  salary  and  settlement  seem  generous. 

Mr.  Merrick  evidently  had  some  of  the  wisdom  of  the  chil- 
dren of  this  world,  as  well  as  that  of  the  children  of  light.  At 
any  rate,  at  the  adjourned  meeting,  "it  was  considered  that  the 
offers  for  the  encouragement  of  Mr.  Noah  Mirick's  settling 
with  us  as  our  minister  were  not  sufficient."  This  is  certainly 
very  modestly  stated,  and  relieves  Mr.  Merrick  from  all  sus- 
picion of  having  offensively  pressed  a  bargain  of  his  solicitous 
hearers.  It  is  very  probable  that  he  had  hinted  some  additional 
favors  which  they  might  render  him,  which,  while  they  would 
cost  little  but  labor,  would  be  to  him  as  acceptable  as  gold,  for 
they  vote  ' '  to  provide  the  timber  for  a  Dwelling  House  for  said 
Mr.  Mirick,  which  was  not  included  in  the  former  voat;" 
also  to  "Hue,  frame,  and  Raise  said  building,  for  said  Mr. 
Mirick." 

Meanwhile  Joseph  Wright  and  Daniel  Warner,  who  were 
chosen  on  March  25th  to  take  the  advice  of  three  neighboring 
ministers,  have  made  the  journey  through  the  woods  to  South 
Hadley,  obtained  the  opinions  of  three  ministers  there  assem- 
bled, and  have  safely  returned  with  the  advice  of  Samuel  Allis, 
James  Bridgham,  and  Edward  Billings,  which  is  in  the  follow- 
ing words :  ' '  These  may  signif ye  that  upon  Application  made  to 
us  by  a  Committee  from  a  Place  called  Springfield  Mountains, 
of  their  choice  of  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  for  their  minister,  that  we 
approve  of  their  Choice,  and  Heartily  Commend  him  and  them 
to  the  Divine  Blessing."  The  advice  is  acceptable,  of  course, 
for  these  men  of  a  "Place  called  Springfield  Mountains"  had 
already  strained  a  point  to  make  the  salary  and  settlement 
satisfactory  to  the  minister. 

The  meeting  adjourns  to  May  26th,  and  receives  the 
answer  that  "the  worthy  Mr.  Mirick  gave  to  the  call  that 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  43 

he    should   settle    in    the    Ministry   heare,"   in    the    following 
letter : — 

"To  the  inhabitants  of  the  fourth  precinct  in  Springfield 
convened,  and 

"Dear  Friends:  I  have  now  more  thoroughly  Considered 
your  voats  Relating  to  my  settling  among  you,  and  must  Con- 
fess that  the  matter  Looks  dark  Enough  with  Regard  to  my 
support.  Your  encouragements,  you  must  needs  be  sensible, 
being  but  small;  but,  however.  Considering  your  Present  Cir- 
cumstances and  the  great  need  you  stand  in  of  a  minister,  and 
considering  further  the  unanimity  you  have  Discovered  in 
your  Choice  and  the  seeming  call  of  Divine  Providence,  I  dare 
not  think  of  leaving  you. 

' '  I  have  therefore  determined  (putting  my  trust  in  him  who 
Careth  for  us  all)  to  Except  of  your  invitation  with  hopes  and 
Expectations  of  your  future  Kindness  to  me,  and  your  Readi- 
ness, att  all  times,  to  contribute  to  my  support  and  comfort, 
as  God  shall  give  you  ability;  and  the  Lord  grant  that  we  may 
live  togeather  in  Love  while  we  are  hear,  and  when  we  go  home 
may  set  down  togeather  in  the  Kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Sav"" 
Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory,  both  now  and  forever.    Amen. 

"NoahMirick 
"Springfield  May  26,  174 L" 

The  meeting  "votes  to  Chuse  a  Committee  to  confer  and 
agree  with  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  Relating  to  the  time  of  his  ordina- 
tion, and  also  what  Churches  to  apply  to  for  assistance  in  the 
ordination,  and  to  act  in  other  affairs  Dependent  thereupon," 
who  are  to  make  "a  Return  of  their  Proceedings  to  the  next 
meeting  that  shall  be  called."  Events  now  thicken.  The  great 
day  of  desire  is  near  at  hand.  A  special  meeting  of  the  precinct 
is  called,  by  a  new  warrant.  May  29.  Aaron  Parsons  "moder- 
ates" the  meeting,  and,  with  a  pride  which  we  cannot  quite 
admire,  and  with  an  indiscretion  which  the  fervor  of  their 
enthusiasm  at  the  near  prospect  of  having  a  minister  all  their 
own  will  certainly  excuse,  they  voted  "That  the  Ordination  of 
the  worthy  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  shall  be  in  the  oldest  Parish  in 
Springfield,  if  Liberty  can  be  obtained;"  and,  "that  the  Com- 
mittee shall  take  care  that  suitable  Provisions  be  made  for  the 


44  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Entertainment  of  those  called  to  Assist  in  said  Ordination  att 
the  expense  of  the  Precinct."  Whether  "Liberty"  could  not 
be  obtained,  or  whether  the  Warriners  and  Blisses  and  Warners 
came  to  their  right  minds  after  the  meeting,  which  is  to  be 
hoped,  they  were  saved  that  long  tiresome  journey  across  the 
plains,  through  the  woods  and  swamps,  by  a  final  determination 
to  have  the  ordination  of  their  own  minister  among  their  own 
dwellings.  Accordingly,  a  large  oak  tree,  then  standing  near 
the  house  of  Daniel  Warner,  which,  as  I  have  said,  was  a  few 
rods  north  of  Federal  lane,  was  selected  as  the  place  to  hold 
the  services. 

A  rude  piilpit  of  rough  boards  was  constructed,  and  a  few 
seats  of  boards  and  logs  arranged  around  it  to  accommodate 
the  people. 

The  morning  of  the  great  day  to  those  people  came  at  last; 
but  it  came  not  clear,  balmy  and  fragrant  as  June  mornings 
usually  are;  it  was  lowering,  and  the  sky  was  hid  by  clouds. 
The  "ministers  and  their  dellegates  and  students"  had  come 
from  Hadley  and  Springfield  and  Longmeadow  and  Brimfield, 
and  the  grave  council  was  sitting  in  solemn  deliberation,  we 
mav  suppose,  at  Nathaniel  Warriner's.  The  people  were 
gathering, — Daniel  Lamb  from  the  plains,  David  Chapin  from 
over  the  mountain,  the  Bartletts,  and  Blisses,  and  Burts  and 
Warners. 

The  venerable  oak  seemed  to  feel  the  honor  done  it,  and 
welcomed  them  lovingly  to  its  shelter,  if  not  to  its  shade.  The 
sun  was  getting  high,  and  the  clouds  were  growing  thick.  But 
the  council  did  not  come.  A  very  serious  difficulty  had  arisen, 
which  the  learned  and  worthy  ministers  and  their  " Dellegates" 
covild  not  remove.  In  organizing  the  church,  before  proceeding 
to  ordain  the  minister,  they  found  that  there  were  but  six 
members, -«-an  insufficient  number.  There  must  be,  said  the 
venerable  council,  seven.  On  what  ground  this  reason  for  not 
proceeding  with  the  ordination  was  set  up  does  not  appear; 
the  proceedings  were  all  in  abeyance.  Dr.  Merrick  says  in  his 
address,  "At  length  a  man  produced  himself  and  said  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  to  join  the  church,  but  waited  only  for  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  4o 

ordination.  The  council  concluded  they  could  admit  him, 
which  they  did,  and  then  proceeded." 

"It  would  be  curious  to  know  what  they  built  their  opinion 
upon,  but  my  father,  who  told  me  this,  said  he  never  asked 
them,  and  he  could  not  conceive  what  it  could  be."  In  a 
history  of  Massachusetts  published  in  1839,  it  is  stated  that 
David  Warriner  was  the  man  who  came  forward  to  make  up 
the  sacred  and  required  number  of  seven,  thus  relieving  the 
reverend  council  of  their  difficulty,  and  the  waiting  and  wonder- 
ing audience  of  their  impatience. 

But  they  were  not  soon  enough  to  escape  the  gathering 
storm.  Hardly  had  they  reached  the  welcoming  oak,  when  it 
began  to  rain,  and  they  hurriedly  adjourned  the  service  to 
Nathaniel  Warriner's  bam.     (This  bam  was  standing  in  1831.) 

There  the  ordination  services  were  performed.  The  hymn 
was  sung,  the  sermon  preached,  the  prayer  was  offered,  the 
charge  given,  the  benediction  pronounced,  and  the  audience 
departed  to  their  homes,  with  hearts  overflowing  with  joy  that 
the  Lord  had  heard  their  prayers,  and  given  them  so  good  a 
man  for  their  minister  as  him  whom  they  loved  to  call  the 
"worthy  Mr.  Mirick."  The  reverend  council,  their  delegates, 
and  students,  after  partaking  of  the  hospitality  of  these  frugal 
people  at  the  houses  of  Warriner  and  Brewer,  and  spending 
the  night,  started  in  the  early  morning  for  their  distant  homes, 
leaving  behind  them  good  wishes  and  prayers  fragrant  as  the 
flowers.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  part  of  the  first  page  in  the 
book  of  church  records,  written  by  Rev.  Noah  Merrick. 

The  record  is  in  a  homemade  book  of  forty-four  pages,  con- 
sisting of  blank  sheets  of  paper,  folded  and  stitched  together. 
The  pages  are  about  four  inches  wide  and  six  inches  long.  The 
writing  is  very  fine  and  small,  and  some  words  abbreviated. 

"Records  of  y^  Ch^  in  y^  East  Precinct  In  Springfield. 

"June  24:  1741.  was  gathered  a  Ch^  in  y*^  East  or  fourth 
Precinct  in  Springfield;  consisting  of  y*^  following  persons; 
Viz;     Noah    Merick,    Joseph    Wright,    David    Merick,    David 


"■ks^ 


pu^y,  ^^ 


•h^U^^T^ 


ir^  j/2l  ^ii4' ^' 


■^r — >*1    ^r--^. 


C-a—tyf 


</t*--%^ 


J/A-.:^^.  >.)'~^<i 


^t^-H-tv*-^*-**-^' 


^^err/;M  '4^,  ^/"^i  /^-u^ 


COPY  OF  THE  FIRST  PAGE  OF  THE  MINISTERS  RECORD. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  47 

Warriner,    Nath"  Warriner,   Nath"   Hitchcock,   Isaac   Brewer, 
and  David  Chapin. — 

And  Noah  Merick  ordained  Pastor — 
July  5:  1741.    Tho^  Son  of  David  Merick,  Baptised. 
Aug"^  9:  1741.     Miriam,  Daughter  of  Sam"  Kilbome,  Baptised. 
Aug'  16:  1741.     Sam"  Warner,  and  Margret,  Wife  of  Nath" 

Warriner,  admitted  to  communion. 
Aug'  23:  1741.    Jerusha,  Daughter  of  Dan"  Warner,  Baptised. 
Sep'  27:  1741.     Phineas  Chapin  owned  y^  Covenant. 
Octob''  18:   1741.    Noah,  Son  of  Sam"  Stebbins,  and  EHzabeth, 

Daughter  of  Sam"  Warner,  Baptised." 

It  is  interesting  to  read  this  first  record  of  the  church  in  this 
place,  made  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  years  ago,  probably 
on  the  day  when  the  events  happened. 

"At  the  first  precinct  meeting  held  after  the  ordination, 
November  6,  1741,  it  was  voted,  as  if  in  gratitude  for  having 
secured  a  shepherd  to  care  for  the  sheep  of  the  Great  Shepherd," 
"to  build  a  pound  in  this  precinct  att  the  Charge  of  the  pre- 
cinct," so  that  the  cattle  might  also  be  saved  from  doing  them- 
selves or  their  owners,  or  others,  harm. 

Then  came  up  next  the  very  difficult  subject  of  locating  the 
meeting  house,  for  some  settlers  had  come  into  the  southern 
portion  of  the  precinct. 

To  give  time  for  consultation  apparently,  the  meeting  is 
adjourned  for  "half  an  hour."  Then  the  meeting  is  adjourned 
for  one  month  to  December  7,  "Att  nine  of  the  clock  in  the 
morning."  They  met  and  "adjourned  to  one  of  the  clock  in 
the  afternoon."  Again  they  met,  and  it  was  "Voted  that  the 
1st  Meeting  House  or  House  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God  \y 
shall  be  sett  on  the  Land  Called  the  Over  Plus  Land  in  the 
Middle  Division,"  a  strip  across  the  precinct  from  east  to  west, 
four  miles  long,  as  will  be  remembered,  and  eighty-two  rods 
wide.  This  was  as  near  as  they  coiild  come  to  agreeing  upon  a 
location  after  a  month's  special  consideration  and  four  meetings. 

They  voted  and  chose  "James  Wood  of  Summers,  John 
Shearman  Esq.  of  Brimfield,  and  Ephraim  Terry  of  Endfield  " 
a  committee  to  determine  on  "what  Spot  or  Place  in  the  Over 


48  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Plus  Land  of  the  Middle  Division  said  Meeting  House  shall  be 
Erected."  Another  meeting  was  held  the  next  week,  December 
14,  1741,  at  which  the  chief  business  was  to  raise  and  appropri- 
ate money.  They  "Voted  and  granted  to  Rev.  Noah  Mirick 
Fifty  Pounds  in  money  for  half  a  years  salary;"  to  "Nathaniel 
Warriner  six  pounds,  one  shilling  and  sixpence  for  his  keeping 
the  Ministers  Dellegates  and  Scholars  at  the  time  of  the  Ordina- 
tion;" to  "Aaron  Stebbins  for  the  Expense  he  was  att  in  Geting 
the  Deed  of  the  Over  Plus  Land  further  Executed,  one  pound 
ten  shillings;"  to  "Isaac  Brewer  ten  shillings  for  keeping  the 
Ministers  Dellegates  and  Scholars  Horses  att  the  time  of  the 
aforesaid  Ordination;"  and  also,  "Ten  Shillings  for  the  Boards 
and  Nails  he  provided  for  a  Pulpit  and  y*^  work  he  did  tords 
y*"  same;"  to  "David  Mirick  four  shillings  for  the  work  he  did 
tords  the  same;"  to  "Rever"'^  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  Forty  Pounds 
for  Twenty  Sabbaths  Preaching  before  he  was  ordained;"  to 
"Nathaniel  Warriner  for  keeping  Mr.  Mirick  and  his  Mair 
Eleven  Pounds  Ten  Shilling;"  to  "Sam"  Stebbins  Jun^,  Three 
Shillings  for  keeping  the  Rever"''  Mr.  Mirick's  Mair  Last 
Spring;"  to  "Thomas  Mirick,  2'^,  one  Pound  Twelve  Shillings 
for  his  Expense  in  pursuing  a  Petition  in  the  General  Court  in 
Behalf  of  this  Precinct;"  to  "Abel  Bliss  fifteen  Shillings"  for 
the  same  service ;  ' '  Granted  also  Seven  Pounds  in  money  for 
Contingent  Charges  to  be  Disposed  of  by  the  Committee  of 
this  Precinct;"  to  "Daniel  Warner  for  his  Geting  Mr.  Mirick's 
Mair  kept  Last  Spring  two  pounds;"  "  Voated  to  Chuse  a  Com- 
mittee to  se  that  Mirick's  house  be  sett  up  agreeable  to  the 
Precinct's  Obligation;"  "Granted  Twenty  Pounds  to  Defray 
the  Charge  of  Providing  a  Scriber  and  Building  a  House  for  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Mirick;" 

"Voated  that  Isaac  Brewer"  (who  kept  a  tavern  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  Street,  eight  or  ten  rods  south  of  Springfield 
Street,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gumey  now  live)  "Shall  entertain 
the  Committee  appointed  to  Determine  a  Place  or  Spot"  for 
setting  the  "first  Meeting  House  att  the  Charge  of  the  Pre- 
cinct;" "Voated  that  fourty-one  Pound  fifteen  shillings  and 
six  ]jcnce  of  the  money  Granted  at  this  Meeting  shall  l:)e  Raised 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


49 


of  the  Poles  and  Rateable  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Precinct;"  and  finally  "Voated  that  the  whole  sum  of  one 
Hundred  forty-one  Pound  fifteen  Shilling  and  six  pence,  that 
was  Granted  att  this  meeting  shall  be  Disposed  of  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  this  Precinct." 

Such  was  the  generous  sum  raised  to  liquidate  past  obliga- 
tions and  accomplish  future  undertakings.     It  will  be  noticed 


HOUSE  OF  ISAAC  BREWER. 
Now  home  of  Frank  A.  Gurney. 


that  the  smallest  services  rendered  by  any  inhabitant  of  the 
Precinct  were  paid  for.  Very  little  seems  to  have  been  volun- 
tarily given.  At  this  meeting  the  committee  on  locating  the 
meeting  house  presented  their  report.  We  can  easily  imagine 
with  what  eagerness  and  solicitude  those  freeholders  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  fourth  precinct  in  Springfield,  assembled  at 
the  dwelling  house  of  Isaac  Brewer,  listened  to  the  finding  of 


50  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

their    disinterested    committee    selected    from    "neighboring 
towns."     The  report  read  as  follows: — 

"Whereas  we  the  subscribers  being  Chosen  a  Committee  by 
a  vote  of  the  Freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  fourth  Pre- 
cinct in  Springfield  to  Determine  what  Place  or  spot  in  the  over 
plus  land  in  the  Middle  Division  where  the  first  Meeting  House 
should  be  Erected  or  set  up  and  haveing  heard  the  Pleas  of  the 
inhabitants  Relating  to  the  said  Affair  and  having  Considered 
maturely  thereon,  Doe  mutually  Agree  and  Determine  said 
Meeting  House  to  be  set  up  on  that  hill  lying  in  the  over  plus 
Land  and  about  six  score  Rods  East  of  the  Westermost  Rode ' ' 
(Main  Street)  "in  said  Precinct  and  about  sixty  or  seventy  rods 
West  or  Westerly  of  the  top  of  wigwam  Hill  so  Called  and 
Southerly  of  a  Run  of  Water  that  Runs  out  of  the  mountains 
there  being  a  small  Black  Oak  Tree  marked  on  the  South  side 
with  a  cross  on  said  Hill. 

"Springfield  December  17'^  A.  D.  1741. 

John  Sherman       1 

James  Wood  >    Committee" 

Ephraim  Terry     J 

When  the  reading  was  finished,  it  was  "Voated,  Excepted  in 
the  full  intent  Contents  and  Limitations  Expressed  and  set 
forth  in  said  Committee's  Report."  The  great  question  now 
apparently  settled,  there  is  a  lull  in  the  storm  of  precinct 
meetings,  and  work  is  commenced  in  earnest  on  Mr.  Merrick's 
house. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  14th,  1742,  I  find  this  record,  which 
seems  to  be  worth  printing,  to  show  what  they  accomplished 
in  about  six  months. 

"The  following  Grants  mad  to  Defray  the  Charges  Building 
y^  Rev"'*  Noah  Miricks  House  made  in  the  old  Tenor.  (Much 
abbreviated.) 

Aaron  Stebbins  53^  days  work  1  lb.  18  s. 

Stephen  Stebbins  1  day  drawing  timber  6  s. 

Paul  Langdon  2  days  a  framing  18  s. 

David  Mirick  5  days  a  huing  2  lbs.  5  s. 

David  Mirick  for  his  team  and  Boy  most  a  day 

Drawing  timber  6  s. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  51 

Sam"  Bartlett  4  days  a  framing  1  p.  16  s. 

Thomas  Mirick  1  day  with  team  14  s. 

Thomas  Mirick  3  days  a  framing  1  p.  1  s. 

Stephen  Stebbins  in  Considarashun  2  s. 

Nathaniel  Hitchcock  3  days  a  framing  1  p.  1  s. 

Moses  Bartlett  1  day  framing  7  s. 

Nathaniel  Bliss  7  days  work  2  p.  9  s. 

Samuel  Stebbins  team  draw  timber  6  s. 

Samuel  Stebbins  7  day  a  framing  3  p.  3  s. 

Phineas  Chapin  1  day*"  work  7  s. 

Jonathan  Ely  4  day^  work  1  p.  8  s. 

Daniel  Warner  1  day  sloding  ( ?)  timber  14  s. 

Daniel  Warner  1  day  drawing  timber  1  p.  5  s. 

Nathaniel  Warriner  1  day  sloding  (?)  timber  14  s. 

Nathaniel  Warriner  1  day  huing  rafters  6  s. 
Sam'  Warner  415  foot  slitt  work                                  3  p.  6  s.  2  p. 

Sam'  Warner  1  day  framing  7  s. 

Sam'  Warner  Carting  slitt  work  12  s. 
Daniel  Parsons  415  foot  slitt  work                              3  p.  2  s.  3  p. 

Joseph  Wright  1  day^  work  with  horse  8  s. 

Isaac  Brewer  1  day  frameing  7  s. 

David  Mirick  1  day  with  team  7  s. 
David  Mirick  11  day^  work,  att  10  shillings 

per  day,  a  framing  5  p.  10  s." 

Probably  each  man's  work  was  deducted  from  his  tax;  or 
if  the  value  of  his  work  exceeded  his  tax  he  was  paid  the  balance 
in  money.  The  work  on  Mr.  Merrick's  house  seems  to  have 
been  pushed  forward  so  that  it  was  soon  occupied  by  him.  In 
October,  1744,  he  married  Abigail  Brainard  of  Haddam,  Conn. 
On  their  journey  on  horseback  to  his  parish,  she  carried  some 
slips  of  a  rose  bush  from  her  old  home,  and  set  them  out  by  the 
new  one.  She  gave  many  slips  to  the  neighbors,  and  some  are 
still  in  existence  here.  The  story  was  first  told  me  when  a 
child,  by  my  great-aunt,  who,  in  her  youth  was  a  near  neighbor 
of  Mrs.  Merrick,  but  it  passed  out  of  my  thought  for  fifty 
years,  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  a  lady  of  our  town  handed 
one  of  my  family  a  bouquet  of  roses,  and,  indicating  a  few  of 
the  blossoms  she  said,  "Those  are  the  Parson's  Rose."  Then 
it  all  came  back  to  me,  and  I  wrote  it  out  in  a  poem  of  thirty  or 
more  verses,  with  the  title  of  the  "Parson's  Rose,"  which  was 


/ 


52  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

published  in  1904-05.    I  insert  a  few  of  the  verses,  as  it  is  a  true 
Wilbraham  story. 

THE  PARSON'S  ROSE 

Far,  far  away,  in  the  dear  old  days. 

The  almost  forgotten  days  of  yore, 
A  maiden  stood  at  the  meeting  place 

Of  the  streamlet  with  the  river's  shore. 

Her  heart  was  his  who  was  riding  down 

From  the  precinct  where  he  preached  God's  will, 

To  bear  her  a  bride,  from  Haddam  town, 
To  his  parish  home  on  Wigwam  Hill. 

On  stores  of  clothing  and  linen,  long 

She  had  wrought  her  love  in  thoughtful  ways; 

The  wheel  and  shuttle  had  sung  their  song 

In  her  happy  home  through  the  summer  days. 

A  horseman  riding  since  break  of  day 

Over  the  hills  and  under  the  lea, 
On  woodland  trail  and  the  King's  highway. 

With  a  happy  song  in  his  heart  rode  he. 

So  the  lover  came  on  his  own  good  steed, 
At  evening  came  as  the  sun  went  down, 

Came  in  a  day,  for  he  rode  with  speed, 
To  marry  his  bride  in  Haddam  town. 

As  the  evening  shadows  grew  apace. 

And  the  soaring  swallow  sought  his  mate, 

And  the  full  moon  showed  its  welcome  face, 
She  met  him  there  at  her  father's  gate. 

The  minister  came,  the  same  good  man 

Whose  hand  was  laid  on  her  baby  head ; 

With  the  Lord's  baptism  her  life  began, 

And  as  oft  since  then,  a  prayer  was  said. 

A  rose  bush  grew  by  her  father's  door, 

A  wide-spread  bush,  bearing  wealth  of  bloom; 

It  had  blossomed  there  from  days  of  yore. 

And  filled  the  house  with  a  sweet  perfume. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  53 

From  it  she  took  a  generous  store 

Of  slips  to  plant  by  her  new  home's  ways, 

They  would  call  to  mind  forevermore, 

The  old  home  life  of  her  girlhood  days. 


The  sun  was  painting  the  eastern  sky 

With  the  rose-red  hue  of  breaking  day, 

As  they  rode  at  mom,  the  trail  to  try. 

Of  forest  path  and  the  King's  highway. 


On  her  own  horse  she  the  loved  slips  bore 

Throughout  that  ride  on  the  hunter's  trail, 

With  her  own  hands  set  them  by  the  door 
Of  the  parish  house  above  the  vale. 


She  gave  to  all  from  her  generous  store. 
To  all  who  came  and  a  rootlet  chose, 

Till  the  slips  were  set  by  many  a  door, 

And  came  to  be  called  "The  Parson's  Rose." 


The  seasons  came  and  the  swift  years  sped. 
But  the  roses  bloomed  around  her  door, 

With  a  fragrance  sweet  as  when  she  wed 
In  the  scarce  remembered  days  of  yore. 


The  Parson  and  bride  they  fell  asleep, 
A  century  since  on  Wigwam  Hill, 

But  treasured  slips,  with  blossoms  sweet. 

Of  "The  Parson's  Rose,"  we  find  them  still. 

Bloom  on,  fair  roses  from  Haddam  town. 

And  stir  our  hearts  with  the  old  home  love. 

Days  await  us  when  deeds  we  have  done. 
Will  all  be  counted  somewhere  above. 


So  may  some  of  the  deeds  we  have  wrought. 
When  our  day  of  life  draws  near  its  close. 

Bring  to  our  minds  as  fragrant  a  thought. 

As  the  young  bride  planting  the  Old  Home  Rose. 


54  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

After  the  finishing  of  the  minister's  house,  we  hear  nothing 
about  building  the  meeting  house  till  November  24,  1742, 
when,  at  a  precinct  meeting,  "Eighty  pounds  old  Tenor  bills 
are  Voated  and  Granted  to  Provide  Matterials  toards  building 
a  Meeting  House  in  this  Precinct,  Viz.  Nails,  Glass,  Covering 
&c.;"  and  "David  Mirick,  Sam"  Stebbins,  Daniel  Cadwell, 
Sam"  Bartlett  and  Abel  Bliss  are  chosen  a  Committee  to  Take 
Care  and  Provide  Materials  in  Order  to  Build  Said  Meeting 
House." 

The  winter  of  1742-43  is  improved  by  gathering  the  materials. 
On  May  25,  1743,  "The  following  Grants  or  Elowances  that 
are  made  att  this  Meeting  are  made  in  the  Old  Tenor. "  "  Voated 
and  Elowed"  precedes  each  of  the  following. 

"To  Nathaniel  Warriner  4  pounds  15  shillings  for  one 
thousand  of  Good  Pine  Boards  inch  thick  Delivered  on  that 
Hill  appointed  by  a  Committee  Chosen  by  this  Precinct  to 
Erect  the  first  meeting  house  on.  To  Stephen  Stebbins  2 
pounds  15  shillings  for  600  foot  of  Quarter  Boards  Delivered 
as  a  bove  Said.  To  Sam"  Stebbins  5  pounds  4  shillings  for 
1034  foot  of  Quarter  Boards  Del^'*  as  a  bove  said.  To  Aaron 
Parsons  2  pounds  six  shillings  for  500  foot  of  Good  Marchantable 
Pine  Boards.  Delivered  as  a  bove  said.  To  Jonathan  Ely  1 
pound  8  shillings  6  pence  for  300  foot  of  inch  Pine  Boards.  To 
Moses  Bartlett  1  pound  seven  shillings  and  6  pence  for  300  foot 
of  Good  Marchantable  Pine  Boards.  To  Caleb  Stebbins  18 
shillings  and  4  pence  for  200  foot  of  Good  Marchantable  Pine 
Boards.  To  David  Mirick  2  pounds  5  shillings  for  a  1000  of 
Good  Seader  Shingles.  To  Daniel  Cadwell  18  shillings  &  4 
pence  for  200  foot  of  Good  Marchantable  Pine  Boards.  To 
Moses  Burt  2  pounds  5  shillings  for  a  1000  of  Good  Sedar 
Shingles.  To  Nathaniel  Bliss  2  pounds  8  for  a  1000  of  Good 
Spruce  Shingles  without  sap.  To  Sam"  Bartlett  2  pounds  5 
shillings  for  a  1000  of  Spruce  Shingles  without  sap.  To  Phineas 
Chapin  2  pounds  and  7  shillings  for  1000  of  Spruce  Shingles 
without  sap.  To  Daniel  Parsons  2  pounds  8  shillings  for  a 
1000  of  Sedar  Shingles.  To  David  Jones  2  pounds  &  5  shillings 
for  a  1000  of  Sedar  Shingles.  To  Caleb  Stebbins  2  pounds  & 
8  shillings  for  a  1000  of  Good  Marchantable  Spruce  Shingles. 
To  Sam"  Warner  3  pounds  6  shillings  and  a  penny  for  700  & 
18  foot  of  Good  Marchantable  Quarter  Boards.  To  Daniel 
Cadwell  2  pounds  six  shillings  for  500  foot  of  Good  Marchantable 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  55 

Quarter  Boards.    To  Thomas  Mirick  2  pounds  8  shillings  for  a 
1000  of  Good  Marchantable  Spruce  Shingles  without  sap." 

It  seems  that  quite  an  amount  of  material  had  been  gathered, 
and  we  imagine  that  the  hammerers  and  sawyers,  the  hewers 
and  the  framers  are  following  close  upon  the  "Scriber"  as  he 
lays  out  the  work,  improving  every  day,  between  planting  and 
hoeing,  and  haying  and  sowing,  so  that  when  the  autumn 
comes,  the  doors  of  the  sanctuary  will  be  opened  for  worshipers. 
Alas  for  human  expectations!  Instead  of  this  result,  we  find 
that  nothing  had  been  done.  For  at  a  meeting  November  29, 
an  attempt  is  made  to  change  the  location,  but  it  was  not  suc- 
cessfiil,  for  December  8,  1743,  it  is  "Voated  to  build  a  meeting 
house  on  that  spot  of  Land  that  this  Precinct  voated  to  build 
one  on  at  a  former  meeting,"  and  also  that  the  "Precinct  Com- 
mittee shall  take  care  to  Provide  a  Place  for  the  Carring  on  the 
Worship  of  God." 

So  the  matter  rested  for  more  than  a  year.  Some  idea  of 
prices  at  that  time  may  be  had  from  a  vote  taken  at  a  meeting 
held  December  10,  1744.  "Voated  to  Thomas  Mirick  10 
shillings  for  two  quires  of  paper  for  the  use  of  Precinct  Com.  & 
Treasurer."  The  location  of  the  meeting  house  was  still  an 
unsettled  question,  for  on  April  10,  1745,  the  precinct  "Voted 
that  the  meeting  House  shall  be  set  by  the  West  Rode  of  this 
Precinct  on  the  Land  Called  the  over  Plus  Land  in  the  middle 
Division."  Our  present  Main  Street  was  then  called  the  West 
Road,  and  evidently  the  intention  was  to  set  the  meeting  house 
on  that  piece  of  land,  since  called  "The  Green,"  about  where 
the  school  house  of  District  No.  3  now  is.  It  is  apparent  that 
the  fathers  felt  the  need  of  the  most  accurate  information,  for 
at  a  precinct  meeting,  about  this  time,  they  "Voated  to  Daniel 
Warner  6  pounds  for  the  Province  Law  Books."  But  the  all 
important  question  of  a  location  for  the  meeting  house  would 
not  stay  settled.  At  a  meeting  held  October  28,  1745,  those 
who  favored  the  Wigwam  Hill  location  rallied  all  their  forces 
and  out-voted  the  "West  Rode"  parties,  and,  "Voated  to 
Build  the  Meeting  House  on  the  Hill  Called  Wigwam  Hill" 


56  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

and  "to  chuse  some  Judicious  Men  to  advise  us  as  to  some 
measures  whereby  we  may  Establish  a  Place  where  to  Erect  a 
meeting  House  in  this  Precinct,"  and  it  was  "Voated  that  Mr. 
John  Worthington,  Mr.  Francis  Ball  and  Mr.  Timothy  Nash  be 
advisers  in  the  affair  aforesaid;"  and  Caleb  Stebbins  is  to 
"apply  himself  to  said  advisors  in  behalf  of  the  Precinct." 
The  committee  may  have  given  some  advice,  but  they  did  not 
make  any  report  that  is  recorded.  On  November  4,  1745,  it  is 
' '  Voated  to  Chuse  a  Committee  to  determine  the  Place  or  Spot 
on  the  Overplus  Land  in  y^  Middle  Division,  viewing  the  land 
at  large,  where  the  first  Meeting  House  shall  be  erected,"  and 
that  "Ensign  William  King,  Lieutenant  Abraham  Adams,  and 
Leut.  Thomas  Jones  "  be  that  committee.  The  next  vote  passed 
at  this  meeting  seems  to  specify  more  definitely  the  powers  of 
the  committee,  and  the  purposes  of  the  precinct.  "Voated, 
That  Leut.  Abraham  Adams,  of  Suffield,  Ens"  William  King, 
of  Suffield,  and  Leut.  Thomas  Jones  of  Endfield,  be  a  Committee 
to  appoint  and  Determine  in  what  Place  in  the  Over  Plus  Land 
in  the  middle  division  in  this  Precinct,  it  is  most  fit  for  this 
Precinct  to  build  their  Meeting  House,  and  that  the  Place 
which  they  shall  appoint  shall  be  the  Place  of  Seting  it,  and 
that  the  Meeting  House  be  set  there  accordingly,  at  the  charge 
of  this  Precinct,  and  of  such  Dementi ons  as  this  Precinct  shall 
determine;"  and  Nathaniel  Warriner  is  directed  "to  apply  to 
the  Committee,"  and  "Daniel  Parsons  and  Nathaniel  Bliss  to 
wait  on  the  afores*^  committee  in  showing  of  them  the  Land." 
The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  November  18, — two  weeks 
— when  the  report  of  the  committee  was  received,  whose  deci- 
sion they  had  voted  should  be  final.  The  committee  report: 
"Pursuant  to  the  trust  Reposed  in  us  by  said  Precinct,  after 
viewing  the  Land  and  hearing  the  Pleas  in  said  Precinct,  we 
Judge  and  Determine  that  the  Meeting  House  be  built  on  a  Hill 
Commonly  Called  Wigwam  Hill,  about  seven  or  eight  and 
twenty  Rods  southward  of  the  house  of  Rev.  Noah  Mirick" 
[which  was  six  or  eight  rods  northwesterl}^  of  the  house  in  which 
Henry  T.  and  C.  P.  Bolles  now  live],  "and  about  seven  Rods 
south  westward  from  a  pine  tree  which  we  have  mark'  with 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  57 

an  ax  as  wittness  our  hands  this  sixteenth  day  of  November, 
1745."  The  good  people  generously  paid  Adams  and  King,  of 
Suffield,  each,  "four  pounds,"  and  "Jones  of  Enfield,  three 
pounds  15  shilhngs,  old  tenor,  for  their  services;"  and  Nathaniel 
Bliss  and  Daniel  Parsons  each  "one  pound  five  shillings  for 
Rideing  with  the  Committee  2  days  &  half;"  and  Dea.  Nathaniel 
Warriner  "one  pound  six  Pence  for  Procuring  the  Committee, 
and  two  Pound  twelve  shillings  &  six  Pence,"  all  in  "Old  Tenor, 
for  Keeping  said  Committee  and  their  Horses." 

The  meetings  on  Sunday  having  been  held  in  Daniel  Parsons' 
house,  he  was  paid  for  its  use  for  the  year  ending  March  22, 
1746,  "two  pounds,  old  tenor;"  and  in  May  there  are  "Voated 
and  granted  to  Isaac  Brewer,  att  the  Rate  of  three  pounds  old 
tenor  per  year,  for  the  use  of  his  Chamber  to  Cary  on  the 
publick  worship  in,"  and  "that  he  shall  have  Reasonable 
Elowance  for  fitting  up  said  Chamber  for  the  Decent  Carrying 
on  the  worship  in."  The  next  year,  March  17,  1747.  there  was 
"Voated  and  granted  to  Isaac  Brewer  twelve  shillings,  old 
tenor,  for  his  Services  in  Riging  up  his  chamber  for  the  Publick 
Worship,  with  the  nails  he  Provided."  Everything  now  seems 
to  be  well  arranged,  a  temporary  place  of  worship  provided, 
and  the  location  of  the  meeting  house  decided ;  nothing  remains 
but  to  go  on  and  finish  the  building.  Still  things  did  not  run 
smoothly.  The  precinct  had  for  some  cause  got  into  a  lawsuit 
with  Daniel  Parsons ;  the  owners  would  not  pay  the  ' '  two  pence 
per  acre  "  land  tax,  and  suits  were  growing  up  because  the  lands 
were  sold  to  pay  them.  It  seemed  desirable  to  some  "that  the 
Lands  that  were  given  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mirick  should  be 
exempt  from  the  tax  laid  upon  it.  Either  in  whole  or  in  part;" 
and  more  than  all,  the  meeting  house  question  would  not 
remain  settled,  but  thrust  itself  forward  at  the  precinct  meet- 
ings, and  on  March  4,  1747,  the  precinct  "Voats  to  Chuse 
Ensign  Joseph  Sexton,  of  Summers,  Leut"'  Joseph  Blocket,  of 
Brimfield,  and  Leut"'  Gersham  Makepice,  of  Western,  a  com- 
mittee" to  "locate  the  meeting  house  and  that  they  have 
liberty  to  set  it  in  any  place  in  the  Precinct,  and  said  com- 
mittee shall  view  the  lands  of  said  Precinct  at  large,  or  till 


58  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

they  be  satisfied."    They  are  no  longer  confined  to  the  "Over- 
plus Land. ' '    The  precinct  is  ' '  All  before  them  where  to  choose. ' ' 
A  committee  is  chosen  "to  show  them  the  land;"    another,  to 
entertain  them;  another,  of  six  members,  "to  take  care  to  build 
the   meeting  house  at   the   cost   of  the   Precinct   where   it   is 
located,"  making  it  "forty  five  feet  long,  thirty  five  feet  wide, 
and  of  suitable  height."     On  the  "first  Monday  in  May,  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,"  it  is  "  Voated  that  the  award  of  the 
committee  be  accepted  and  recorded;"    which  was  as  follows: 
"We  doe  award.  Prefix  &  Determine  that  the  spot  or  place 
where  their  meeting  House  ought  to  be  set,  is  on  the  Hill  Com- 
monly Called  the  Wigwam  Hill,  the  centre  of  said  spot  being 
att  a  walnut  Staddle  of  about  four  or  five  inches  Diameter, 
there  being  a  fast  stone  in  the  Ground,  about  two  feet  and  a 
half  northwest  of  said  staddle;    said  staddle  standing  twenty- 
eight  Rods  &  sixteen  Links,  Running  by  a  point  of  compass 
from  the  southwest  comer  of  Mr.  Noah  Mirick's  dwelling-house, 
south  sixteen  degrees  thirty  minits  East  unto  said  staddle." 
After  a  struggle  of  six  years,  and  the  assistance  of  four  different 
committees,  chosen  from  outside  the  precinct,  the  "Place  or 
Spot"  is    again  selected,  although    the  last    location  is    prac- 
tically the  same  as  the  one  preceding  it.    So  it  appears  that  three 
different  places  were  selected,  at  different  times,  on  which  to 
build  the  meeting  house.     First,  on  the  hill,  sometimes  called 
Pine  Hill,  about  sixty  rods  east  of  our  present  Main  Street. 
Second,  "by  the  West  Rode,"  [the  Green]  and  third  and  fourth, 
on  Wigwam  Hill.     It  is  probable  that  the  settlers  in  the  east 
and  south  parts  of  the  precinct  favored  that  location.     The 
"Stebbins  History"  says  "there  was  a  common  of  about  two 
acres  on  which  the  meeting  house  was  placed,"  and,  that  so 
much  progress  had  been  made  in  building  the  meeting  house, 
that  December  25,  1747,  a  precinct  meeting  is  called  "to  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  or  House  of  Publick 
Worship;"   But  it  is  probable  that  the  words,  "House  of  Public 
Worship"  refer  to  Hitchcock's  house,  for  his  house  had  been 
used  for  that  purpose,  and  at  the  precinct  meeting  held  the  next 
spring  on  March  15,  1748,  the  record  says  they  were  ''assembled 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  59 

at  the  House  of  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  or  House  of  PubHc  Wor- 
ship." At  the  meeting  held  December  25,  1747,  the  precinct 
"Voated  &  Granted  Three  Hundred  and  fifty  pounds  old  tenor 
Bills  for  Defraying  the  Charge  of  Building  a  meeting  House  in 
this  Precinct."  So  it  would  seem  that  nothing  had  yet  been 
done  towards  erecting  the  building.  At  the  precinct  meeting 
held  at  Hitchcock's  house,  March  15,  1748,  there  was  an  article 
in  the  warrant  as  follows,  "Article  4,  to  Pass  any  further  voats 
if  thought  Necessary  Relating  to  Building  a  meeting  House  in 
S^  Precinct."  There  was  no  action  on  this  article,  as  the  pre- 
cinct had  voted  at  the  previous  meeting  in  December,  to  appro- 
priate the  money  for  the  building.  After  a  struggle  of  nearly 
seven  years,  from  December  5,  1741,  to  March  15,  1748,  the 
"place  or  spot  for  setting  the  meeting  house"  is  determined, 
and  the  necessary  funds  have  been  voted.  Warriner's  "seadar 
shingles,"  and  Brewer's  "good  pine  timber,"  and  Stebbins' 
"Marchantable  pine  boards,"  and  Warner's  " slit  work "  have 
been  seasoning  and  rotting  on  Pine  Hill  for  nearly  five  years, 
waiting  for  the  builders.  At  last  the  long  looked  for  hour  has 
come.  Teams,  scribers,  axes,  saws  and  hammers,  and  those 
eager  pioneers,  are  busy  at  the  task  they  loved,  and  so  much 
progress  was  made  that  the  meeting  house  was  used  late  in 
1748. 

In  the  record  of  births,  kept  by  "Clark"  Warner,  is  the  fol- 
lowing entry:  "Charles  Brewer,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Brewer 
was  bom  Dec.  18,  1748  the  first  that  was  Baptised  in  our 
meeting  hous."  And  in  the  church  record  is  this  entry :  "Dec. 
25,  1748,  Charles,  son  of  Isaac  Brewer,  Baptised,  in  meeting 
house."  The  next  previous  baptism  is  October  30,  1748.  So 
that  it  is  probable  that  the  house  was  first  used  for  public 
worship  about  that  time.  There  is  no  record  of  any  dedication 
services.  The  building  was  a  mere  shell  for  some  years.  On 
January  2,  1749,  the  precinct  met  at  the  meeting  house,  but 
adjourned  to  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Hitchcock,  because,  it  is 
very  likely,  it  was  too  cold  to  remain  for  the  transaction  of 
business,  where  they  could  endure  to  remain,  warmed  by  the 
fervors  of  devotion,  to  worship.    When  they  were  assembled  at 


60  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Hitchcock's,  they,  "Voated  and  Granted  fourty  Pounds  old 
tenor  to  support  the  Charge  of  further  finishing  the  meeting 
House."  About  two  weeks  later,  on  January  16,  1749,  they 
met  at  the  meeting  house  and,  "15  pounds  old  tenor  Granted 
to  further  finish  the  Meeting  House." 

At  this  same  meeting,  January  16, 1749,  "David  Mirick,  Isaac 
Brewer,  and  Nathaniel  Warriner"  were  "chosen  a  committee  to 
Represent  the  Precinct  to  the  town  of  Springfield  in  taking 
some  measures  to  Get  set  off  for  a  town  in  this  fourth  Pre- 
cinct." vSo  it  seems  the  fathers  gave  some  thought  to  the 
problems  concerning  an  independent  political  existence,  as  a 
town,  thus  early.  December  28th,  1749,  the  precinct  "Voated 
and  Granted  to  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  fifteen  shillings  old  tenor 
for  his  services  Clearing  and  sweeping  the  Meeting  House," 
and  March  17,  1750,  "Voated  and  Granted  to  D"  Nathaniel 
Warriner  40  shillings  old  tenor  for  Procuring  the  Meeting  House 
swept  the  past  year."  At  the  same  meeting,  "Voated  that 
Nathaniel  Hitchcock  Clear  and  make  Decent  the  burying  yard 
by  the  Charge  of  the  Precinct."  Some  idea  of  the  difference  in 
value  between  "Old  Tenor  Bills,"  and  "lawful  money,"  may 
be  gained  by  the  two  following  votes.  "Jan.  9,  1750,  Voated 
for  the  Ministers  salary  for  the  past  year  387  pounds  5  shillings 
old  tenor."  One  year  later,  December  24,  1750,  "Voated  and 
Granted  to  the  Rever"*^  Mr.  Noah  Mirick  41  pounds  8  shillings 
lawful  money  for  his  salary  for  the  year  past."  It  will  be  seen 
that,  at  that  time,  one  pound  in  "lawful  money  "[coin],"  was 
worth  nearly  ten  pounds  in  "Old  tenor." 

In  1749  the  selectmen  of  Springfield  laid  out,  or  altered,  the 
road  "running  east  &  west  near  the  rev'^.  Mr.  Noah  Miricks 
Dwelling— Beginning  at  the  west  road  "[Main  Street]"  about  40 
rod  south  of  Moses  Burt's  Dwelling  House  at  a  black  oak  tree 
thence  easterly  "[the  distances  only  are  given  here]"  30  rods,  then 
18  rods,  24  rods,  18  rods,  14  rods,  6  rods,  20  rods,  14  rods,  13 
rods,  then  27  rods  to  the  Rev^  Mr.  Miricks  Stone  wall  that 
Encloseth  his  Garden,"  [the  stone  wall  is  still  there]  "then 
eastward"  [the  distances  are  given  with  each  change  in  the 
direction,  amounting  in  all  to  184  rods]  "at  or  near  the  Road 


The  History  of  "Wilbraham  61 

called  the  middle  Road"  [now  Ridge  Road].  The  east  part  of 
that  road,  beyond  the  minister's  house,  was  discontinued  about 
fifty  or  sixty  years  ago,  as  the  present  road,  leading  over  the 
mountain  to  Monson,  rendered  it  unnecessary. 

Also  on  March  8,  1749,  they  laid  out  the  road  which  has 
since  been  called,  "Meeting  House  Lane;"  "Beginning  at  the 
south  west  comer  of  the  rev^  Mr.  Noah  Mirick's  Stone  Wall 
which  Encloseth  his  Garden  and  about  Seven  or  eight  rods  west 
of  Mr.  Mirick's  House,  then  northerly  to  a  tree,  then  7,  9,"  11 
rods  to  a  tree  near  a  run  of  water,  "then  12,  22,  8,  11,"  8  rods 
to  a  rock  6  feet  west  of  a  white  oak  Staddle  Marked,  then  9, 
14.  "9  rods  at  the  comer  of  Daniel  Warner's  New  Pasture 
called  his  goat  Pasture,"  then  17,  "16  rods  to  a  staddle.  Thus 
far  running  northerly,  from  thence  taking  the  weadth  of  said 
road  in  the  propriety  or  Improvement  of  Isaac  Brewer  and 
running  by  such  a  point  as  to  take  in  the  whole  weadth  of  s^ 
road  in  the  Propriety  or  Improvement  of  David  Mirick  where 
it  comes  into  the  West  road  or  street"  [Main  Street]  "by 
running  near  a  west  line  44  rods  from  s**  staddle  to  said  street. 
2  rods  wide."  This  road,  beginning  at  the  west  end,  on  the 
east  side  of  Main  Street,  and  about  3  or  4  rods  north  of  the  pres- 
ent road  leading  to  Monson,  was  the  original  way  to  the  Meet- 
ing House.  It  is  now  known  as  "Wade's,  or  Merrick's,  Lane." 
It  ran  easterly  44  rods,  then  turned  southerly,  crossing  the  pres- 
ent road  to  Monson,  (about  where  Federal  Lane  enters  the 
Monson  road)  and  continuing  on  southerly  to  the  Meeting 
House  on  Wigwam  Hill.  That  part  of  the  road  north  of 
the  Monson  road  was  discontinued,  probably  when  the  Mon- 
son road  was  laid  out.  The  part  south  of  Monson  road 
was  discontinued  about  1870,  and  a  new  road,  to  take  its 
place,  made  about  60  or  70  rods  further  to  the  east,  from 
the  present  residence  of  C.  C.  Beebe  to  that  of  H.  T.  and 
C.  P.  Bolles. 

At  a  precinct  meeting  held  "Mar.  19'^  1751,  Voated  and 
Granted  to  Nathaniel  Bliss  5  shillings  4  pence  Lawful  money  to 
be  paid  to  the  Rev"^"^  Mr.  Merrick's  Negro."  This  payment 
may  have  been  for  sweeping  the  meeting  house.     On  "Jan.  5, 


62  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

1757,  Voated   &  Granted  to  M"".   Miricks  Negro  for  fetching 
Clay  from  Town  four  pence  three  farthings." 

"Jan.  13  1752  Met  at  Meeting  House  and  granted  the  Min- 
isters salary  41  pounds  18  shillings  4  pence  lawful  money,  then 
adjourned  to  the  Dwelling  House  of  Moses  Burt;"  [probably  it 
was  cold  at  the  meeting  house]  "then,  Voated  and  Granted  53 
pounds,  6  shillings,  8  pence  lawful  money  towards  the  further 
finishing  the  meeting  house,"  and,  "Thomas  Mirick,  Stephen 
Stebbins,  Daniel  Cadwell,  David  Mirick  &  Nat'  Warriner 
chosen  a  Committee  to  Lay  out  said  money  first  in  Ceiling  and 
Plastering  said  Meeting  House  in  order  to  make  it  warm  and 
if  there  be  any  money  Remaining  to  Lay  it  out  in  Procuring 
materials  for  the  seats  &c."  "March  17,  1752,  Voated  & 
Granted  to  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  Eight  shillings  for  service 
Don  to  y^  buring  yard".  It  will  be  remembered  that  he  was 
chosen  two  years  before  to  make  the  "burying  yard  Decent." 
A  few  years  later  it  was  voted  to  build  a  Stone  Wall  around  the 
Burying  Ground,  which,  we  are  very  thankful  now,  was  never 
done.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to  make  a  new  agreement 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Merrick  in  regard  to  his  salary,  December  24, 
1750.  It  is  evident  that  the  committee  found  their  task  a  hard 
one,  for  the  market  value  of  certain  necessary  articles  of  con- 
sumption fluctuated  considerably  and  the  "Old  tenor"  cur- 
rency depreciated  so  rapidly,  that  it  was  two  years  before  they 
made  their  report.  On  January  9,  1753,  they  made  the  fol- 
lowing report: 

"The  agreement  of  y^  Committee  with  y^  Rever"'^  M""  Noah 
Mirick  upon  y^  species  on  w''''  y^  Sallary  for  y^  year  past  was 
Stated  is  as  follows: 


lb.        s.         p. 

Indian  Corn  at 

15  s.  p""  boshel 

—  31  —  5—    0 

Wheat  at 

30  s.   "       " 

—  34  —  1  —  10 

Rey  at 

20  s.    "       " 

—  29  —  8—    2 

Barley  at 

20  s.    "       " 

31  —  5—    0 

Oats  at 

8  s.   "       " 

25 

Flax  at 

4  s.  per  lb. 

36  —  6—    8 

Beaf  at 

1  s.    "       " 

25 

Pork  at 

1  s.  6.  per  lb. 

28  —  2—    6 

£237—    9—    2  — O. 

T. 

£  37  with  its  discount 

89 11  — O. 

T. 

326  —  10  —    1  —  0. 

_T. 

in  Lawful  money 

43  —  10  —    8 

Signed  by  Noah  Mirick,  Thomas  Mirick,  Caleb  Stebbins." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  63 

The  report  was  accepted  and  the  precinct  "Voated  and 
Granted  y^  Rev"^  Mr.  Mirick  his  salary  £  43—10  s.  8  p.  for 
past  year."  Also,  "Voated  that  y*"  foregoing  vote  be  under- 
stood to  mean  from  y^  21^'  December  A.  D.  1751  O.  S."  [old 
style]  "to  Jan'^^  y*^  2"*^  1753  N.  S."  [new  style]  which  makes  a 
Compleat  year  &  no  more."  Also,  "Voated  and  Granted  the 
sum  of  Ten  pounds  Lawful  money  for  the  further  finishing  y^ 
Meeting  House  and  other  Contingent  Charges."  And  at  many 
of  the  precinct  meetings,  in  the  ten  years  following,  additional 
sums  were  granted  "for  the  further  finishing  of  the  meeting 
house."  Such  was  the  house  our  fathers  erected  in  their  poverty 
for  the  honor  and  worship  of  God.  This  was  their  "hill  of 
Zion,"  this  their  sanctuary.  As  they  went  up  to  worship,  the 
broad  expanse  of  the  valley  of  the  ' '  Great  River  was  spread  out 
before  them,  from  the  mountains  of  Holyoke  and  Tom  on  the 
north,  to  the  settlement  at  Hartford  on  the  south.  In  the  valley 
directly  below  them,  the  open  fields  of  the  early  settlers  were 
the  first  to  greet  their  vision — the  fields  of  Hitchcock  and  Burt 
and  Brewer  and  Merrick  and  Warriner;  and  on  to  the  west, 
over  forests  and  meadows,  and  beyond  the  plains  of  the  inward 
commons,  could  be  seen  the  blue  line  of  vapor,  signalizing  the 
homes  of  the  earlier  settlers  in  Springfield  Street;  or  the  white 
cloud  of  fog  lying  low  along  the  banks  of  the  Great  River. 
And  beyond,  more  than  twenty  miles  away,  rose  the  blue 
ridges  of  the  Green  Mountains,  tipped  with  gold  in  the  sun- 
shine of  the  morning,  veiled  in  purple  in  the  evening ;  and  when 
the  frosts  touched  the  forests  in  autumn,  the  red  maple  flamed 
among  the  trees;  and  the  green  of  the  pines  and  the  yellow  of 
the  walnut  caused  the  whole  vast  landscape  to  appear  like  a 
gorgeous  carpet  woven  in  the  loom  of  the  gods.  The  Lord's 
house  was  exalted  upon  the  hills,  and  hither  the  tribes  came  up 
to  worship.  And  when  the  Sabbath  morning  comes,  Daniel 
Lamb  and  Sykes  from  the  Bay  Road,  Chapin  and  Bliss  and 
Bartlett,  from  on,  and  over,  the  mountain,  Hitchcock  and 
Burt,  Brewer  and  Warriner  and  Warner  and  Merrick,  from 
Main  Street,  and  Badger  and  Skinner  and  Stebbins  and  Chapin 
and  King,  from  the  south  part  of  the  precinct,  all  wend  their 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  65 

way,  through  the  fields,  and  along  the  wood-land  trails,  and  by 
obscure  bridle-paths,  and  unworked  highways,  until  the  pro- 
cession, some  on  horse-back  and  some  on  foot — for  now,  as  it 
was  before,  to  Springfield,  the  young  men  and  the  maidens 
thought  the  walk  most  delightful, — all  went  on  together  up 
to  the  place  of  the  sanctuary.  They  made  their  horses  fast  to 
the  trees  about  the  meeting  house,  and  after  such  Christian 
inquiries  of  the  neighbors  whom  they  met  there,  for  news  of 
their  households,  and  of  the  precinct,  as  their  curiosity  com- 
pelled and  reverence  could  not  restrain,  they  entered  the 
sanctuary  which  they  had  erected  for  the  worship  of  the 
Lord." 

After  they  were  as  comfortably  seated  as  possible  on  the 
benches,  in  such  order  as  had  been  prescribed,  the  "Worthy 
Rev.  Noah  Mirick,"  with  wig  or  powdered  hair  and  cue,  bands 
and  small-clothes  and  silk  stockings  and  shoe-buckles  of  silver, 
entered  the  house,  the  congregation  all  rising  as  a  token  of 
respect.  He  read  a  hymn,  then  handed  the  book  over  the  top 
of  the  rough  pulpit— for  there  was  but  one  hymn-book  in  the 
precinct,  and  that  was  the  minister's — to  Deacon  Nathaniel 
Warriner,  who  named  the  tune,  gave  the  pitch,  read  one  line 
of  the  hymn,  and  commenced  singing  it;  Warner  and  Brewer 
and  Langdon  and  Stebbins  and  Moses  and  David  and  Hosea  and 
Huldah  and  Jemima  and  Ruth  following  after,  as  ability  and 
strength  permitted;  the  deacon  considerately,  and  as  became 
the  service  of  God's  House,  waiting,  before  he  gave  out  another 
line,  till  the  most  dilatory  had  finished. 

When  the  hymn  was  ended,  the  minister  solemnly  prayed, 
the  congregation  all  reverently  rising.  When  the  prayer  was 
over,  another  hymn  was  sung  in  the  same  manner.  Then  the 
sermon  was  preached,  not  seldom  interspersed  with  the  twitter- 
ing of  swallows  above,  or  the  crying  of  babies  below. 

At  last  the  benediction  is  pronounced,  and  the  minister 
leaves  the  pulpit  and  passes  out  first,  the  congregation  all 
standing,  as  when  he  entered.  The  families  now  gather  about 
in  groups  to  eat  their  frugal  dinners  from  the  logs  and  stumps 
which  were  abundant. 


66  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

The  short  intermission  over,  the  afternoon  service  follows, 
similar  in  all  respects  to  the  morning;  after  which,  Paul  Lang- 
don  again  loads  his  marvellous  wagon,  [the  only  one  at  that 
time  in  the  precinct]  with  his  own  family,  and  some  of  his 
neighbors,  others  mount  their  horses,  and  still  others  on  foot, 
wend  their  way  along  the  bridle-paths,  and  abandoned  Indian 
trails  on  their  homeward  way.  Some  not  reaching  their  habita- 
tions until  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  all  grateful  that  God  has 
"cast  their  lines  in  pleasant  places,  and  that  they  have  a  goodly 
heritage."  Saturday  evening  is  "kept"  by  these  pioneers,  and 
when  the  "chores"  are  done,  and  the  sun  is  set,  they  are 
already  "dressed,"  and  ready  to  call  upon  their  neighbors  in  a 
social,  or  more  affectionate  way. 

This  practice  of  "keeping"  Saturday  evenings  was  followed 
in  many  families  within  my  own  recollection.  I  can  remember 
the  time  when,  if  the  older  boys  or  young  men  had  traps  or 
snares  set  to  capture  the  game  in  the  forest,  those  traps  and 
snares  must  all  be  sprung  on  Saturday  afternoon,  before  the 
sun  went  down,  and  not  reset  until  after  sundown  on  Sabbath 
evenings.  Even  the  wild  creatures  of  the  woods,  on  which  some 
of  the  people  partly  depended  for  food,  must  have  their  "day 
of  rest ' '  from  the  pursuit  of  the  hunter.  I  can  remember,  when 
a  child,  of  standing  on  tiptoe  at  a  west  window  of  my  home  on 
Sabbath  afternoons,  watching  and  wishing  and  waiting  for  the 
sun  to  go  down,  and  when  the  last  vestige  of  its  glowing  form 
had  finally  disappeared  behind  the  western  hills,  Oh!  then,  I 
could  run  and  caper.  We  have  drifted  a  long  way  from  the 
strict  "Sabbath  keeping"  of  those  not  very  distant  days.  In 
these  times,  when  on  the  Sabbath  day,  the  automobile  and  the 
motor-cycle  go  puffing  and  popping  and  tooting  their  homs  and 
— smelling — along  the  highway  at  a  speed  anywhere  from  five 
to  fifty  miles  an  hour,  when  the  man  with  the  baseball  bat  is 
knocking  at  the  church  door,  and  the  sweaters  of  the  football 
team  are  only  a  little  way  in  the  distance,  there  are  many  who 
are  seriously  asking  the  question,  "Haven't  we  drifted  far 
enough?" 

"The  Meeting  House  is  occupied,  but  it  is  far  from  being 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  67 

finished;  and  the  years  until  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
in  1763,  are  witness  to  earnest  efforts  to  build  pews  and  seats; 
to  put  in  galleries,  to  plaster  about  the  pulpit,  to  lay  the 
gallery  floor,  to  build  seats  in  it,  to  plaster  under  it,  and  finally 
to  plaster  the  house  wholly  in  1756,  eight  years  after  it  was 
occupied  for  worship. 

On  March  16th  and  18th,  1756,  the  precinct  meetings  were 
held  at  the  schoolhouse.  Probably  because  the  plastering  and 
the  ' '  further  finishing ' '  of  the  meeting  house  were  in  progress ; 
for  I  find  that  at  the  precinct  meeting  held  January  5,  1757,  it 
was  "Voated  and  Granted  to  D"  Nathaniel  Warriner  1  pound 
17  shillings  for  Money  paid  to  Benj.  Jones  for  plastering  the 
Meeting  House  Nov.  1756  and  for  Keeping  S**  Jones  &  his 
horse  and  for  some  Nails  &  Labour  about  S'^  Work."  Also, 
"to  Benonie  Atchinson  for  Eight  days  and  a  half^  work  about 
the  Meeting  House  Fifteen  ShilHngs.  To  Sam^^  Bartlett  for 
5  days  and  three  quarters  for  work  at  the  same  place.  10 
shillings,  to  Joseph  Sikes  for  Twelve  days  &  3  quarters  of  him- 
self and  for  his  Team  better  than  a  day  Ditto  twenty  four 
shillings — To  D"  David  Mirick  for  half  a  days  work  making 
scafolding  for  the  plaisterer  nine  pence  two  farthings."  On 
"Mar.  24,  1760  the  Parish  Com.  instructed  to  Repair  the  Roof 
of  the  Meeting  House."  Probably  the  five  or  six  years  that 
those  "Good  Sedar  Shingles"  had  lain  on  "Pine  Hill,"  had  not 
increased  their  wearing  qualities.  But  the  finishing  of  the 
meeting  house  was  an  easy  thing  to  do  compared  with  the 
difficulty  of  "seating"  it. 

As  there  were  no  pews  built  for  the  first  five  years,  there  was 
no  "seating"  of  the  congregation. 

But  afterwards,  we  know  that  it  was  customary  to  "seat" 
persons  in  order  of  their  age,  or  of  civil  or  mihtary  dignity.  The 
eldest  persons  being  assigned  to  the  best,  or  highest  pew — for 
the  highest  pew  in  honor  was  often  far  from  being  best  in  posi- 
tion. Generally  only  heads  of  families  occupied  the  pews  on 
the  floor  of  the  house.  The  young  men  and  maidens,  the  boys 
and  the  girls,  were  "seated"  in  the  gallery,  after  it  was  so  far 
finished  that  it  could  be  occupied,  and  where  the  services  of  the 


G8  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Lord's  house  were  not  always  visible  and  sometimes  hardly 
audible.  In  1753,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "seat  the  Meeting 
House."  They  reported  and  their  "report  was  Excepted,"  but 
was  not  recorded.  Persons  were  often  dissatisfied  with  the 
seats  assigned  them,  and  frequently,  sometimes  within  a  few 
weeks,  another  committee  would  be  chosen  to  "Rectify  the 
mistakes  of  the  former  committee,  to  Dignifie  the  seats,  and 
seat  said  Meeting  House  a  New."  At  a  precinct  meeting  on 
"Jan.  P'  A.  Do"\  1760.  Voted  to  seat  the  Meeting  House 
anew"  [committee  of  nine  chosen]  "according  to  their  best 
Discretion.  Saving  y^  men  &  women  are  to  be  Seated  together." 
The  report  of  this  committee  is  recorded,  and  here  we  have,  for 
the  first  time,  the  names  of  the  families  in  the  precinct.  It  will 
be  noticed  that  the  names  of  the  deacons  are  not  given.  They 
doubtless  occupied  what  was  known  as  "The  Deacons'  Seat." 
It  will  also  be  observed  that  in  "Pew  No.  2'^,"  is  seated  the 
wives  of  the  two  deacons,  and  "The  Widow  Mary  Mirick." 
She  was  probably  the  widow  of  Deacon  David  Mirick,  who  had 
died  about  three  years  previous. 

At  later  "seatings,"  after  giving  the  names  of  the  men  for 
each  pew,  the  report  reads  "and  their  wives  with  them." 

The  first  Seating  of  the  Meeting  House  that  was  recorded: 

1760 

' '  We  the  Subscribers  being  Chosen  a  Committee  at  a  Meeting 
in  the  Fourth  Precinct  in  Springfield  Held  Ja"  P"^  1760  To  Seat 
The  Meeting  House  in  S'^  Precinct  and  to  make  Return  of  our 
Doings  at  y*=  Adjournment  of  Said  Meeting  y'^  22'^  of  S^  Jan" 
Instant — We  according  mett  and  Seated  y''  fore  S^  House  In 
the  manner  Following,  and  now  Offer  it  to  your  Consideration 
for  acceptance — Viz 

In  the  Fore  Seat  of  the  Body  In  the  Pew  N".  l^t— 

Lt  Paul  Langdon    Thos  Glover—  '    Nathi  Hitchcock  &  Nath'  BUss 

Isaac  Colton    Benj"  Warriner 

Simeon  Willard   John  Jones:  In  the  Pew  No.  3^ — 

Noah  Alvard  &  The  Wid^.  Mercy       John  Hitchcock    L"  Henry  Chapin 

Bartlett  the  oposite  Side—  '    Abner  Chapin  &  Lewis  Langdon. 

In  The  Second  Seat—  In  the  Pew  N°.  14th— 

John   Steel      Ezekiel   Russell — and       Sam'  Bartlet   Benoni  Atchason 

Jabes  Hendrick  Henry  Badger  &  Will™  Stacey 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


In  the  Pew  N".  4 — 

Paul  Langdon    John  Bliss  and  the 

Widw  Hannah  Skinner 

In  the  Pew  No.  IS'h— 

Moses  Colton  &  Ezra  Barker — 

In  the  Pew  N".  2d— 

Dec"  Nath'  Warriners  Wife 

Dec"  Sami  Days  Wife,  The  Widow 

Mary  Mirick — ■ 

In  the  Pew  No.  20th— 

L't  Thos.  Mirick    Ens"  Abel  Bliss 

and  Sergt  Moses  Burt — 

In  the  Pew  No.  19'^- 

Dan'  Warner    Moses  Warriner 

and  Sergt  Dan'  Cadwell — 

In  the  Pew  No.  S'h- 

Sergt  W'"  King    Stephen  Stebbins 

Caleb  Stebbins  &  Dan'  Lamb. 

In  the  Pew  No.  9— 

Sam'  Warner   Moses  Bartlet 

Jonth  Ely  &  Isaac  Brewer 

In  the  Pew  No.  21st 

Benj"  Skinner   John  Langdon 

Philip  Lyon  &  Hannah  Langdon 

In  the  Pew  No.  18th— 

James  Twing    Benjn  Warriner  Jun"" 

and  Stephen  Bliss — 

In  the  Pew  No.  5th — 

Sami  Warriner    Dan'  Cadwell  Jun"" 

and  The  Wid^  Sarah  Warriner 

In  the  Pew  No.  12 — 

Nathi  Hitchcock  Jun''  Moses  Alvard 

and  Timothy  Wright — • 

In  the  Pew  No.  22d— 

Noah  Bowker   Henry  Wright — 

and  Sam'  Warner  Jun^ — 

In  the  Pew  No.  23^- 
Sergt  Aaron  Stebbins    Aaron  Steb- 
bins and  James  Warriner.  i 

In  the  Pew  No.  16th  I 

David  Warriner    Joseph  Sikes  and 
Moses  Stebbins 


In  the  Pew  No.  6th 

Stephen    Colton      Silas    Hitchcock 

and  Isaac  Osborn: — 

In  the  Fore  Seat  in  the  Front 
Jesse  Warner   Timo.  Mirick 
Mathew  Cadwell    Phineas  Stebbins 
Abel    Bliss      Moses    Burt    Jun^    & 
Enos  Stebbins — • 

In  the  Fore  Seat  in  ye  Upper  T"" 
Elijah  Wright  Joel  Atchason 
Benoni  Atchason    Tho^.  Jones 
Nath'   Bliss  Jun"-     Caleb   Stebbins 
Jun''  and  Zadock  Stebbins — 

In  the  Pew  No.  17th— 
Oliver  Bliss   Aaron  Bliss: 
and  Comfort  Chafie — 

In  the  Pew  No.  11 — 
Aaron  Alvard    Reuben  Webb — ■ 
Noah  Lamb    Eldad  Stebbins 
Joel  Bliss    Eben"".  Cadwell 
and  Aaron  Warriner. 

Fore  Seat  Middle  Tear 
Eunice  Warriner — Roda — 
Warner — Esther  Day — - 
Miriam  Bartlet — 
Jemima  Bliss — and 
Elisabeth  Badger — 

Second  Seat  in  the  Front 
Eunice  Cadwell    Eunice  Mirick 
Elizabeth    Warner       Eunice    Steb- 
bins   Esther  Ely    Eunice  Stebbins 
&  Lois  Mirick 

In  ye  fore  Seat  in  ye  Middle  Tear 
Jacob  Warriner  Israel  Warriner 
David  Warriner  Jun^  Isaac  Brewer 
Junf.  Moses  Warriner  Zenas  Jones 
Moses  Bartlet  Jun"".  &  W^  King 
Jun--. 

In  the  Second  Seat  in  the  Front 
Sam'  Day  Jun"".    Silas  Bliss: — 
Joseph  Sikes  &  Willi"  Barnes 

Female  Side  Fore  Seat  Front 
Martha  Day   Orpha  Day — 
Ann  Cadwell    Mary  Mirick 
Phebe  Willard  &  Sarah  Lamb — 


70 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Fore  Seat  in  the  Upper  Q"" 
Tabitha  Day    Dorcas  Frost 
Elisabeth  Alvard    Mary  Warner 
Ruth  Stebbins    Elisabeth  Brooks 
Eunice  Brewer   Hannah  Colton — 

Second  Seat  Upper  Quarter 
Ann  Badger   Mercy 
Atchason   Rebecka  Stebbins 
and  Martha  Lamb  — 


Signd — by — us — 
Samuel  Day 
Nath'  Warriner 
Thos  Mirick 
Dani  Warner 
Dan'  Cadwell 
Stephen  Stebbins 
Jonathan  Ely 
Aaron  Stebbins 
Wiling  King 


Commtee" 


This  "seating"  was  so  unsatisfactory  that  another  committee 
of  nine  was  chosen,  about  three  months  later,  "to  "seat"  the 
meeting  house  anew." 

On  March  24,  1761,  the  precinct  "Voted  that  the  present 
owners  of  the  first  Tear  of  Pews  in  the  Body  of  the  Meeting 
House  alter  the  place  of  their  Pew  Doors  of  their  Respective 
Pews  at  their  own  Cost  if  they  please."  Of  the  record  of  the 
"seating"  of  the  meeting  house  in  1760,  the  Stebbins  history 
says:  "There  are  seventy-three  men  and  six  widows  named, 
who  are  presumed  to  be  heads  of  families,  and  who  occupy 
pews  and  seats  on  the  lower  floor.  Of  these,  twenty  one  are 
from  what  is  now  the  South  Parish."  [Now  Hampden]  "In 
the  galleries  there  are  seated  twenty  six  young  men  and  thirty 
one  young  women,  fifty  seven  in  all.  We  shall  not  be  far 
from  the  truth,  therefore,  if  we  estimate  the  whole  population 
of  the  precinct  at  this  time  at  three  hundred  and  fifty  per- 
sons." 

Another  very  important  subject,  and  difficult  to  manage, 
was  the  disposal  which  should  be  made  of  both  the  ' '  Ministry 
Lot"  and  the  Overplus  Land,  a  part  of  which,  that  the  south 
side  of  the  Middle  Division,  on  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Merrick's 
house  stood,  had  been  sold,  or  set  to  him,  as  the  settlement 
accorded  to  the  first  settled  minister  of  the  precinct;  but  that 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Third  Division,  where  the  Langdons 
had  settled,  was  still  the  common  property  of  all  the  pro- 
prietors, and  of  course  in  part  that  of  the  precinct,  as  the 
"Ministry  Lot"  was  by  supposition  a  proprietor.  As  there 
were  two  "Ministry  Lots"  within  the  bounds  of  the  precinct. — - 
the  one  in  the  Middle  or  Second  Division,  No.  38,  running  across 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  71 

the  precinct  from  east  to  west,  and  about  one-half  mile  south 
of  the  Chicopee  River,  on  our  Main  Street,  and  the  other,  No. 
64,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  present  south  line  of  our  town. 
As  these  "lots"  were  the  common  property  of  the  town  of 
Springfield,  and  hence  of  the  other  precincts,  Springfield,  West 
Springfield,  and  Longmeadow,  each  had  a  right  to  a  propor- 
tionate share  of  their  value,  it  was  no  easy  task  to  satisfy,  in 
any  considerable  degree,  any  of  the  parties. 

At  last,  however,  this  was  arranged,  after  repeated  con- 
ferences of  committees  and  years  of  discussion  and  concession. 
When  the  precinct  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  the  two  ministry 
and  school  lots  in  the  precinct  were  set  to  the  town  of  Wilbra- 
ham, so  that  the  interests  of  the  other  precincts  in  them  were 
ended.  The  income  of  the  money  obtained  from  the  sale  of 
these  "ministry  lots,"  is  part  of  the  fund  for  the  support  of  the 
ministry  which  the  two  original  church  societies  of  the  ' '  stand- 
ing order"  now  have. 

By  repeated  conferences  and  compromises,  the  claims  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Merrick  to  all  the  "Overplus  Land  of  the  Middle  or 
Second  Division,  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  were  so 
disposed  of  as  to  leave  him  a  large  and  valuable  farm,  and  the 
larger  sympathy  of  his  people. 

It  is  probable  that  troubles  arising  out  of  Mr.  Merrick's 
claims  to  so  much  land,  which  necessarily  brought  him  into 
antagonism  with  many  of  his  people,  and  the  difficulty  in 
arranging  his  salary,  which  for  some  years  was  based  on  the 
prices  of  certain  commodities,  were  the  cause  of  some  church 
troubles  which  arose  about  1754.  At  a  precinct  meeting  held 
May  10,  1754,  the  following  votes  were  passed;  "Voated  and 
Granted  the  sum  of  five  Pounds  Lawfull  Money  for  defraying 
the  Charges  of  Entertaining  the  Counsel  to  set  in  this  Place  on 
ye  j^yth  q£  June  next,"  also,  "Voated  and  Granted  to  Dea. 
Nathaniel  Warriner  the  sum  of  ten  shillings  Lawful  Money  for 
Keeping  the  former  Counsel."  There  is  no  record  in  the  pre- 
cinct or  church  books  of  the  calling  of  this  former  Counsel,"  nor 
of  the  proceedings  of  either,  but  the  following  is  copied  from  the 
church  record  of  that  time: 


72  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"June  21:  1754.  Step*^  Stebbins,  Aaron  Stebbins,  Lewis 
Langdon,  &  Abner  Chapin,  made  publick  confession  of  y"' 
guilt,  in  absenting  from  y^  Lords  table,  and  publickly  Exhibit- 
ing ag*^  y^  Pastor  a  paper  of  Reproachful  Charges. — 

"Dan"  Cadwell,  Henry  Badger,  W"  Stacy  &  Moses  Steb- 
bins, made  publick  Confession  of  y""  guilt  in  publickly  Exhibiting 
a  paper  of  Reproachful  Charges  ag®'  y'^  Pastor. — 

"Nath"  Hitchcock  made  publick  Confession  of  his  guilt,  in 
casting  Diverse  Slanderous  aspersions  upon  y^  Character  of  y*^ 
Pastor  without  any  just  and  sufficient  ground ;  and  in  absenting 
from  y^  Lords  table;  and  in  signing  a  paper  of  Reproachful 
Charges  ag*  y^  Pastor. — - 

"N.  B.  All  y^  above  mentioned  persons,  upon  making  y"" 
respective  Confessions,  were  accepted  by  y^  C^"". 

"June  23:  1754  Isaac  Brewer  made  publick  Confession  of  his 
offense,  in  absenting  himself  from  y*^  Lords  table. — and  was 
accepted. —  " 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  "counsels"  mentioned,  had 
something  to  do  with  this  difficulty. 

At  the  precinct  meeting,  December  31,  1753,  after  voting  the 
minister's  salary,  44  p.  18  s.  2  p.  the  precinct,  "Voated  and 
Granted  to  S*^  Mirick  twelve  shillings  &  eight  pence  one  farthing 
Excepted  as  Rearages  of  all  his  salary  for  the  time  past."  Also, 
"Voated  and  Granted  to  said  Mr.  Mirick  two  pounds  seaven 
shillings  and  five  pence  one  farthing  for  his  Boarding  Mr. 
Kirtland."  [I  have  the  impression  that  "Mr.  Kirtland"  was  a 
singing  master.] 

January  5,  1756,  there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  the 
precinct  meeting,  "Article  4.  to  know  the  minds  of  the  Precinct 
Relating  to  Singing  &  what  versions  of  the  Psalms  shall  be 
sung  in  the  Public  Worship."  There  was  no  action  under  this 
article,  but  the  question  came  up  again  and  again. 

Our  ancestors,  though  so  engaged  in  the  establishment  of 
their  religious  institutions,  did  not  forget  their  schools. 

The  town  of  Springfield  commenced  to  make  appropriations 
for  schools  in  the  ' '  Outward  Commons,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Great  River,  commonly  called  the  Mountains,"  as  early  as 
1737,  and  every  year  thereafter  until  1763,  when  the  town  was 
incorporated,  beginning  with  the  year  1737,  when  the  amount 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  73 

was  3  pounds  and  increasing  year  by  year  until  1749,  when  the 
amount  was  35  pounds  old  tenor,  which  was  at  75  per.  cent 
discount,  or  more.  In  1750  the  amount  was  4  pounds  13  shillings 
4  pence,  lawful  money,  and  the  same  amount  for  the  years  1751, 
1752,  1753,  1754,  and  6  pounds  16.  S.  7  p.  1  farthing  for  the 
year  1755.  For  the  next  eight  years  the  total  amount  raised  is 
given,  but  the  sum  allowed  the  fourth  precinct  is  not  stated. 
On  November  8,  1752,  the  town  of  Springfield  elected  a  com- 
mittee of  three  "to  Examine  the  Circumstances  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the   Mountain   Parish   with   Respect   to   the   Towns 


SCHOOL   HOUSE   NOW  STANDING   IN   PRESENT  TOWN  OF  HAMPDEN. 
Erected  about  1790. 

Granting  them  a  sum  of  money  towards  Defraying  the  Charge 
of  building  the  School  House  already  built  in  said  Parish  & 
make  Report  at  this  meeting."  On  November  4,  1754,  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  "to  view  and  Consider  the  more  proper 
Place  or  Places  for  School  Houses  to  be  built  in  the  Mountain 
Parish  &  what  sum  is  Proper  to  allow  said  Inhabitants  for  the 
School  House  already  built  there,  and  s'^  com*^*^  are  directed  to 
make  report  as  soon  as  may  be."  At  another  meeting,  held 
twenty  days  later,  the  town  ' '  Granted  the  sum  of  6  pounds  to 
be  paid  to  Ens"  James  Warriner  For  and  Towards  the  Charge 
of  Building  the  school  House  lately  built  at  the  Mountain 
Parish  so  Called  and  to  be  by  him  repaid  to  the  Several  Persons 


74  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

who  were  at  the  Expense  of  building  the  Same  in  Equal  Propor- 
tion according  to  what  they  Severally  advanc'^  for  that  purpose 
they  certifying  to  him  what  each  advanc''  and  what  they  are 
severally  to  Receive  out  of  the  said  Sum  therefore."  So  it 
seems  that  a  school  house  had  been  erected  in  the  outward 
commons,  or  fourth  precinct,  previous  to  November  8,  1752. 
It  is  said  to  have  stood  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  some 
twenty  or  thirty  rods  south  of  our  present  Springfield  Street 
and  nearly  opposite  where  the  present  Congregational  Meeting 
House  stands.  The  name  and  fame  of  the  early  teacher,  for 
years  town  and  Parish  Clerk,  Ezra  Barker,  usually  called  Master 
Barker,  have  come  down  to  us  bearing  a  multitude  of  traditions 
of  his  wit  and  of  his  rod,  of  the  pranks  of  the  boys  and  the  tricks 
of  the  girls,  some  true,  some  probable.  That  he  was  a  good 
penman  the  records  of  both  town  and  parish  testify,  and  any- 
one who  is  called  to  search  the  records  of  those  days,  owes  him 
a  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  clear  and  legible  manner  in  which  he 
did  the  work.  And  in  this  connection  it  may  be  said  that  the 
writing  of  James  Warriner,  who  was  also  town  and  parish  clerk 
for  a  number  of  years,  about  the  same  time,  is  very  legible  and 
easy  to  read,  after  more  than  a  hundred  years.  A  few  roads 
were  laid  out  by  the  town  of  Springfield  within  the  precinct,  and 
some  by  the  county;  but  they  were  mere  cart-  or  bridle  paths 
leading  from  one  neighborhood  and  clearing  to  another.  No 
work  appears  to  have  been  done  on  them  but  to  pick  out  a  few 
stones,  make  crossings  over  a  few  brooks,  and  cut  away  the 
trees  and  bushes  when  they  intruded  too  closely  on  the  path. 
The  Bay  Road  was  subject  to  some  changes  and  alterations. 
Some  of  the  names  given  to  localities  are  of  interest  to  us  today. 
On  May  3'^  1732,  some  changes  were  made  in  it.  The  main 
thing  that  we  are  interested  in  is,  that  as  the  surveyors  came 
along  from  the  east,  they  passed  through  the  "Elbows  or 
Kingstown"  [that  portion  of  our  town  lying  north  of  the  bay 
road,  and  east  of  Chicopee  River],  and  the  surveyors  go  on  to 
say — "and  to  keep  the  path  as  it  now  goeth  along  by  Nine  Mile 
Pond  into  Springfield."  Also,  in  1744,  some  other  changes 
were  made.    [I  have  abbreviated  the  record.]    Highway  Spring- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  75 

field  to  Kingston,  by  nine  mile  pond.  "That  the  Road  begin 
at  the  Old  Road  on  the  easterly  side  of  said  Pond  and  extending 
thence  easterly  4  rods  wide,  thence  East  2  Deg  30,  So.  31  rods, 
thence  East  3  Deg.  30.  So.  39  rods  to  a  rock  and  stones  on  it, 
thence  east  3  d.  No.  493^  rods  to  a  stump  and  stones  near 
Lambs  Door,  thence  east,  9  d.  so.  34  rods  to  a  small  white  oak 
marked — which  road  is  running  through  the  school  lot." 

In  1755,  the  town  of  Springfield  laid  out  a  "highway  from  the 
parting  of  the  Paths  against  Goose  Pond"  [now  Winchester 
Square]  "to  the  Outward  Commons,"  [very  much  abbreviated 
until  the  present  west  line  of  Wilbraham  is  reached]  "to  the 
east  side  the  brook  at  Stone  Pitt"  [perhaps  now,  Watershops 
Pond,  or  the  small  brook  about  one-half  mile  further  west], 
"then — to  Mr.  James  Warriners  fence — to  Warriner's  Bridge — 
to  the  northwest  comer  of  a  scheme  lot  laid  out  to  Samuel 
Warner  2"*^  then  east  80  rods  to  the  meadow  at  Kilbom's 
Bridge,  then  east  14  rods  to  the  east  side  the  causeway  then 
east  20  rods — by  David  Jones  house,  then  12  rods,  then  20  rods 
to  a  heap  stones,  then  north  45°  east  4  rods  then  14  rods,  then 
east  83^  rods  to  the  outward  commons."  [The  variations  from 
due  east  are  not  given  here.]  This  is  our  present  highway  from 
the  Centre  Village  to  Springfield,  west  of  the  line  of  the  outward 
commons,  now  called  Springfield  Street,  and  this  record  is 
principally  interesting  because  of  the  names  given  to  localities, 
such  as,  "Stone  Pitt,"  "Warriner's  Bridge,"  "Kilbom's  Bridge," 
and  "David  Jones  house."  The  two  last  are  in  our  town. 
"Kilbom's  Bridge"  was  at  the  crossing  of  the  most  westerly 
brook,  on  that  road,  in  our  town.  The  meadow,  through  which 
the  brook  runs,  is  often  called  in  the  early  records,  "Worlds 
End  Meadow,"  and  the  brook  "Worlds  End  Brook."  The 
brook  is  called  by  that  name  in  the  record  of  the  "Newbury 
Survey"  in  1729.  We  also  learn  where  David  Jones  lived  in 
1755.  Evidently  the  good  people  of  Springfield,  in  those  early 
days,  thought  they  were  a  long  way  from  home,  when  they  got 
out  to  "Worlds  End  Meadow."  It  is  somewhat  singular  that 
foiir  of  the  brooks  we  cross,  as  we  go  along  Springfield  Street 
westward,  are  the  same  brook,  although  the  first  one,  west  of 


76  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Main  Street,  is  only  a  branch  which  runs  into  "Pole  Bridge 
Brook"  before  it  reaches  West  Street,  which  street  it  crosses 
50  or  60  rods  north  of  the  "Tinkham  Road,"  and  continuing  on 
westward  50  or  75  rods,  turns  to  the  northward  and  again  crosses 
Springfield  Street  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of  our  west 
bounds.  The  brook  continues  on  northerly,  then  westerly, 
then  southerly  until  it  flows  into  the  Watershops  Pond.  Some 
of  us  remember  when  there  was  a  broad  meadow  where  the 
pond  now  is,  and  when  we  drove  through  the  brook  there  to 
water  our  teams. 

It  seems,  from  the  early  records,  that  there  were  milestones 
set  along  the  Bay  Road  to  indicate  the  distance  from  Boston. 
I  find  this  in  the  record  of  an  alteration  made  in  that  road  in 
1777.  The  surveyors,  going  eastward,  mention  a  stone  marked 
89  miles  from  Boston,  and  then  say,  " — just  by  Cornelius 
Webb's  old  Chimney  about  2  rods  north  east  of  the  stone 
marked  88  miles  from  Boston."  It  may  not  be  known  now,  to 
all  of  our  townsmen,  that  the  Bay  Road,  after  passing  Nine 
Mile  Pond,  continued  along  easterly,  crossing  Main  Street  and 
continuing  along  what  is  now  called  Maple  Street,  past  the 
Grace  Church  and  on  up  the  hill  south  easterly,  to  compara- 
tively level  ground,  where  it  again  turned  easterly,  going  on 
down  the  hill  by  a  course  which  is  quite  plain  to  be  traced  today, 
and  entering  the  present  road  a  little  west  of  "Eleven  Mile 
Brook,"  [frequently  called  twelve  mile  brook]. 

As  the  time  passed  the  agricultural  products  of  the  precinct 
were  becoming  more  various  and  more  abundant ;  the  cultivated 
fields  were  growing  broader  and  richer  every  year.  The  houses 
were  more  convenient  and  more  comfortable.  Still  there  was 
little  which  would  gratify  the  tastes  or  supply  what  would  now 
be  called  the  necessaries  of  a  comfortable  home.  Bare  walls, 
bare  floors,  scant  furniture,  the  oaken  table  and  chest  and  pine 
"settle"  were  the  chief  adornings  of  the  houses  in  those  days, 
with  perhaps  a  few  exceptions.  Among  these  was  that  of  Ensign 
Abel  Bliss,  who,  as  tradition  says,  "did  carry  six  bushels  of  salt 
on  his  back  all  at  one  time."    As  I  have  already  said,  he  built 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  77 

his  log  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  or  Ridge  road, 
on  an  elevated  portion  of  his  farm,  about  1736.  At  about  the 
same  time  he  set  out  an  apple  orchard.  The  difificulty  of  getting 
water  on  the  elevated  ground  induced  him  to  change  his  loca- 
tion to  a  place  a  little  north  of  the  most  northerly  brook  which 
crosses  that  road,  and  to  its  east  side.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
energy,  like  so  many  of  those  early  settlers,  and  erected  a  "tar- 
kiln"  on  the  "river  lot,"  and  is  said  to  have  gathered  pine-knots 
and  hearts,  called  candle- wood,  with  which  our  great  grand- 
fathers and  great  grandmothers  illuminated  their  dwellings,  in 
the  south  part  of  Ludlow  and  Belchertown, — it  being  forbidden 
to  gather  them  but  for  lights  in  the  precinct — and  made  two 
hundred  barrels  of  tar,  which  he  sold  for,  what  would  now  be, 
five  dollars  a  barrel,  realizing  one  thousand  dollars,  and  in  1744 
began  to  erect  a  large  two-story  house  32  x  40  feet. 

The  plan  was  so  pretentious  that  it  is  said  the  Rev.  Noah 
Merrick,  ascertaining  what  a  grand  mansion  his  parishioner 
was  about  to  build,  and  perhaps  fearing  that  his  people  were 
becoming  inflated  with  worldly  pride,  thought  it  incumbent  on 
him  to  check  such  tendencies  at  the  beginning.  So  on  a  Sunday 
morning,  he  took  for  the  text  of  his  sermon  the  words,  "Build 
not  your  house  too  high."  Whereupon  the  rebuked  Abel  cut 
ofi  the  upright  posts  of  his  house  seven  inches,  lowering  the 
first  story  that  much.  The  text  in  question  caused  a  great 
rustling  of  Bible  leaves  throughout  the  parish,  and  there  was 
much  discussion  as  to  where  in  the  Holy  Word  the  minister  had 
found  such  a  text.  Finally  some  inquisitive  person  began  to 
search  the  catechism,  and  the  mystery  was  solved.  The  house 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  in  this  section  to  have  square  panes 
of  glass  in  the  windows,  all  the  others  having  diamond  shaped 
panes.  There  is  a  quaint  story  in  connection  with  this  place 
which  was  told  me,  a  few  years  ago,  by  a  woman  who  was  told 
the  story  by  her  grandmother,  who  was  living  near  there  at  the 
time  the  incident  happened.  An  Indian  chief  had  brought  his 
son  there  to  be  taught  the  white  man's  ways  by  the  Bliss  family, 
and  instructed  somewhat  in  book  "laming."  The  family  had 
a  large  dog  named  "Pomp"  which  was  a  great  playmate  for 


78  The  History  or  Wilbraham 

the  boys.  One  day  the  Indian  boy  was  told  to  go  out  into  the 
orchard  and  bring  in  some  apples,  from  a  particular  tree,  for 
baking.  Every  instinct  of  his  nature,  from  his  early  training, 
rebelled  at  the  thought  of  doing  such  "squaw's  work."  An 
hour  or  two  passed  and  there  were  no  apples  brought.  When 
remonstrated  with  by  Mr.  Bliss  for  his  neglect  to  obey,  he  drew 
himself  up  to  his  full  height  and  answered  with  great  dignity, 
"Let  Pomp  pick  up  apples."  Later  in  the  day,  when  one  of 
the  girls  of  the  family  asked  him  to  show  her  where  that  par- 
ticular tree  was,  so  that  she  might  get  some,  he  led  her  all 
around  the  orchard  before  bringing  her  to  the  right  tree,  which 
was  not  very  far  from  the  house.  Taking  his  revenge  in  that 
way  for  the  indignity  put  upon  him.  This  place,  now  known  as 
the  "Speer  Place,"  has  been  in  the  same  family  for  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  years.  It  descended  from  Abel  to 
his  son  Oliver,  from  Oliver  to  his  son  John,  from  John  to  his 
daughter  Catherine  Mary  Ann  Antoinette  (Bliss)  Speer.  She 
told  me  once,  that  she  thought  she  was  named  after  all  her 
aunts.  She  also  told  me  she  had  heard  her  father  say  that 
when  he  was  a  boy,  he  went  out  to  the  Bay  Road  and  was 
honored  with  a  bow  from  General  Washington,  as  the  General 
was  passing  along  the  road  on  the  way  to  Boston.  General 
Washington,  writing  in  his  diary  about  his  passing  along  the 
Bay  Road  at  that  place  says,  "it  was  rough  and  rocky." 
Probably  it  was,  on  the  part  now  abandoned.  There  are 
reports  that  the  house  was  once  a  tavern,  and  that  Washington 
spent  a  night  there.    But  I  do  not  think  it  was  so. 

It  is  said  in  the  Stebbins  History  that  there  were  no  inhabi- 
tants in  the  south  part  of  the  precinct,  previous  to  1741.  In 
that  year,  Stephen  Stebbins  came  from  Longmeadow  and 
settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  main  road  to  Somers,  a  few  rods 
north  of  the  Scantic,  where  Mortimer  Pease  now  lives.  Aaron 
Stebbins,  his  brother,  built  a  little  north  of  the  present  school- 
house  near  there.  These  were  brothers  of  Samuel,  who  had 
settled  some  years  before,  as  I  have  said,  on  the  "Stebbins 
Road." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  79 

In  the  year  1743,  Israel  Kibbe  of  vSomers,  my  great-great- 
grandfather [on  my  mother's  side],  purchased  quite  a  piece  of 
land  near  the  southwest  comer  of  the  precinct,  and  in  1764  he 
sold  that,  with  some  more  land,  to  his  son,  my  great-grandfather, 
Gideon  Kibbe,  who  lived  there  about  thirty  years,  when  he 
moved  to  the  Baptist  District  in  East  Longmeadow. 

About  the  year  1810  he  built  the  house  on  the  east  side  of  our 
Main  Street,  now  standing,  about  ten  or  fifteen  rods  north  of 
Federal  Lane  (where  Mr.  Bryant  now  lives),  for  his  son,  Dr. 
Gideon  Kibbe,  who  followed  his  profession  here  for  almost 
fifty  years,  and  is  still  remembered  by  some  of  our  older  resi- 
dents. He  wished  me  to  be  a  physician,  and  in  1853,  when  I 
was  nine  years  old,  he  prevailed  upon  my  mother  [his  niece],  to 
allow  me  to  come  and  live  with  him,  and  since  then  Wilbraham 
has  been  my  home.  The  doctor's  father  was  a  lieutenant  in  two 
different  regiments  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  I  have  the 
powder  horn  which  he  carried  while  in  the  service.  It  is  finely 
ornamented  with  etchings,  made  I  suppose  with  his  Jack-knife, 
of  several  different  designs,  among  which  are  the  masonic 
emblems  of  the  square  and  compasses,  also  the  date  "1776," 
and  his  initals,  G.  K.,  cut  in  the  bottom. 

As  we  approach  the  close  of  the  precinct  period  of  our  town, 
the  record  contains  the  account  of  the  sad  tragedy  of  the  death 
of  Lieutenant  Mirrick's  son.  Faithful  "Clark"  Warner  records 
as  follows: 

"No.  84,  Timothy  Mirrick,  the  son  of  L*^  Thomas  and  Mary 
Mirrick  was  bit  by  a  ratel  snake  on  August  the  7'^,  1761,  and 
died  within  about  two  or  three  ours,  he  being  22  years,  two 
months  and  three  days  old  and  vary  near  the  point  of  marridg." 
The  place  where  this  young  man  lived  is  now  the  most  south- 
erly place  in  our  town,  on  the  Main  Street,  and  is  owned  by 
Ethelbert  BHss.  The  meadow  where  he  was  mowing  when 
bitten,  is  off  to  the  southwest,  some  seventy  to  ninety  rods 
from  the  home  of  Mr.  Bliss  [in  1863  the  place  was  owned  by 
Porter  Cross]    and   the  tragic  spot  can  be   plainly  seen   from 


80 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


the  Sessions  homestead,  about  half  a  mile  farther  south,  [now 
owned  by  Mr.  Hayes]. 

About  forty  years  ago,  William  V.  Sessions,  who  was  bom  in 
1801,  showed  me  the  place,  and  said  that  the  summer  of  1761 
was  very  dry  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  serpent  had  come 
down  from  "Rattlesnake  Peak,"  on  the  mountain,  where  there 
were  known  to  be  a  few,  to  the  meadow,  in  search  of  water. 
He  also  told  me  that  a  search  for  the  snake  was  made  the  next 


OLD  MERRICK  HOUSE. 
Built  in  1761  for  the  young  man  "vary  near  the  point  of  marridg." 


day,   and  it  was  found  coiled  up  near  the  scythe  of  yotmg 
Timothy,  and  was  killed. 

The  house  which  was  being  built  for  the  }'oung  man,  so  near 
the  ' '  point  of  marridg ' '  is  still  standing  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road  and  is  occupied  by  Walter  Bliss.  The  front  is  two  stories 
high,  but  the  rear  has  the  long  steeply  pitched  rocf  slanting 
down  to  quite  near  the  ground,  in  old-time  fashion. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  81 

Extensive  changes  have  been  made  in  the  looks  of  the  house 
in  the  past  year,  by  building  a  piazza  across  the  front.  A  poem 
was  written  on  this  sad  event,  which  has  had  a  wide  circulation. 
In  the  Stebbins  History  it  is  called  the  great  "Elegy  of  the 
Mountains." 

There  are  many  versions  of  this  old  ballad.  I  give  the  one 
printed  in  the  Stebbins  History. 

ELEGY  OF  THE  YOUNG  MAN  BITTEN  BY  A 
RATTLESNAKE 

On  Springfield  mountains  there  did  dwell 
A  likely  youth  who  was  knowne  full  well 
Lieutenant  Mirick  onley  sone 
A  likely  youth  nigh  twenty  one 

On6  friday  morning  he  did  go 
in  to  the  medow  and  did  moe 
A  round  or  two  then  he  did  feal 
A  pisin  sarpent  at  his  heal 

When  he  received  his  dedly  wond 
he  dropt  his  sithe  a  pon  the  ground 
And  strate  for  home  wase  his  intent 
Caling  aloude  stil  as  he  went 

tho  all  around  his  voys  wase  hered 
but  none  of  his  friends  to  him  apiere 
they  thot  it  wase  some  workmen  calld 
and  there  poor  Timothy  alone  must  fall 

So  soon  his  Carful  father  went 
to  seak  his  son  with  discontent 
and  there  his  fond  onley  son  he  found 
ded  as  a  stone  a  pon  the  ground 

And  there  he  lay  down  sopose  to  rest 
with  both  his  hands  Acrost  his  brest 
his  mouth  and  eyes  Closed  fast 
And  there  poor  man  he  slept  his  last 


82  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

his  father  vieude  his  track  with  great  consarn 
Where  he  had  ran  across  the  com 
uneven  tracks  where  he  did  go 
did  apear  to  stagger  to  and  frow 

The  seventh  of  August  sixty  one 

this  fatal  axsident  was  done 

Let  this  a  warning  be  to  all 

to  be  Prepared  when  God  does  call" 

This  poem  was  read  at  a  banquet  in  Springfield  in  May,  1886, 
and  printed  in  the  Springfield  Republican  June  6,  1886.  It  was 
again  printed  on  Nov.  23,  1911,  with  an  article  written  by 
Miss  Evanore  0.  Beebe  of  our  town,  descriptive  of  the  event, 
and  the  scenes  surrounding  it.  This  last  insertion  brought  six 
or  more  letters  to  the  Republican,  one  each  from  Salem,  Mass., 
Greeley,  Col.,  West  Suffield,  Conn.,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  Green- 
field, Mass.,  and  Virginia  City,  Nev. 

The  letter  from  Nevada  is  especially  interesting,  as  it  was 
written  by  the  great-great-grandson  of  a  brother  of  George 
Washington,  and  is  as  follows: 

' '  That  '  Springfield  Mountain '  song  got  down  into  old  Vir- 
ginia. It  used  to  be  sung  to  me  by  the  negroes  when  I  was  a 
child.  They  used  a  sort  of  whining  refrain  that  was  most 
striking  and  amusing.     This  is  what  I  remember  of  it: — 

' '  One  dreadful  day  John  went  away 

For  to  help  his  father  make  the  hay ; 
When  just  as  the  horn  blew  for  the  noonday  meal 

'A  pisenous  sarpient'  bit  him  on  the  heel. 

"With  a  rigdum  ski  skinny  drigdum  rowe. 
(Chorus  repeated  several  times) 

"Then  MolHe,  his  sweetheart,  came  along  and  found  John 
dying,  and  this  is  what  she  is  supposed  to  have  said: — 

"  'Oh,  John!    Oh,  John,  why  did  you  go 

Down  to  the  meadow  for  to  mow  ? ' 
'Oh,  Mollie  dear,  I  thought  you  knowed. 

It  was  father's  hay  and  must  be  mowed.' 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  83 

There  was  a  version  which  I  think  was  sung  here  at  an  "Old 
Folks'  Concert,"  about  forty-five  years  ago.  It  was  sung  as  a 
solo,  and  all  the  troupe  joined  in  the  chorus. 

On  Springfield  mountain  there  did  dwell 
A  nice  young  man,  I  knew  him  well. 

Sing  Tu-ri-lu     ri-tu-^ri-lay, 

Sing  Tu-ri-lu     ri-tu-ri-lay. 

On  Monday  morning  he  did  go 
Down  to  the  meadow  for  to  mow, 

(Chorus) 

He  scarce  had  mowed  half  round  the  field, 
When  a  pesky  sarpent  bit  his  heel. 

(Chorus) 

He  raised  his  scythe  and  struck  a  blow 
Which  laid  the  pesky  sarpent  low. 

(Chorus) 

He  took  the  sarpent  in  his  hand 
And  posted  off  to  Molly  Brand. 

(Chorus) 

"Oh,  Johnny  dear,  why  did  you  go 
Down  to  the  meadow  for  to  mow  ? ' ' 

(Chorus) 

"Oh,  Molly  dear,  I  thought  you  knowed 
T'was  fathers  field  and  must  be  mowed." 

(Chorus) 

Now  this  young  man  gave  up  the  ghost 
And  did  to  Abraham's  bosom  post. 

(Chorus) 


84  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

And  thus  he  cried  as  up  he  went, 
"Oh,  pesky,  cruel  sar-pi-ent!" 

(Chorus) 

Now  all  young  men  a  warning  take. 
Beware  of  the  bite  of  a  great  big  snake." 

(Chorus) 

I  think  sometimes  the  chorus  was: 

Singing  tu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lay, 
Singing  tu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lu-ral-li-lay . 

Altogether  I  have  seen  seven  or  eight  versions  of  this  famous 
ballad,  generally  written  just  as  the  writers  remembered  to 
have  heard  their  grandfathers,  or  grandmothers  sing,  or  repeat 
it,  a  good  many  years  ago. 

In  one  of  the  versions  there  is  still  another  touch  of  sadness, 
as  follows: 

"Then  Molly  Bland  she  squatted  down 
And  sucked  the  pizen  from  the  wound, 
But,  0 !  she  had  a  rotten  tooth, 
And  the  venom  soon  affected  both." 

The  name,  or  the  residence,  of  the  author  of  this  famous 
poem  are  alike  unknown.  The  Stebbins  History  says,  that 
"Nathan  Torrey  has  the  honor  of  authorship,  if  any  reliance 
can  be  placed  upon  the  most  direct  and  authentic  tradition  on 
the  subject."  The  grave  of  the  unfortunate  young  man  is  in 
the  Deacon  Adams  Cemetery,  near  the  easterly  part  of  the 
older  portion.     His  epitaph  reads: — 

"Here  lies  ye  body  of 
Mr.  Timothy  Mirick 
Son  of  Lieut  Thomas 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Mirick 
Who  died  August  7"^ 
1761  in  ye  23''^  year 
of  his  age 

"He  Cometh  forth  like  a  flower  and  is  cut  down 
He  fleeth  also  as  a  shadow  and  continueth  not." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


85 


MS 

PHP 

Hf^^^H 

9K 

^f^^^ 

K^^^f^Vv^^^^l^^^^^^^^^^l^Sv^^a 

1 

w    J  % 

™Si 

■  ^^^^B^H^^^w^^^^T^^um^ ,.  ^^. 

OLD  MERRICK  HOUSE,  REMODELED  IN  1913. 
Present  home  of  Walter  Blisa. 


The  military  eclipsed  the  literary  renown  of  this  period. 
Capt.  Samuel  Day,  Lieut.  Thomas  Merrick,  and  Ensign  Abel 
Bliss  were  commissioned  as  officers  before  1754;  and  for  the 
French  War,  which  raged  during  this  period,  1755-1760,  twenty- 
two  men  were  enlisted  from  the  fourth  precinct  as  among  the 
patriots  of  that  early  period.  The  names  are  all  entered  as  from 
Springfield,  but  the  following  were  probably  from  what  is  now 
Wilbraham:  In  1755,  for  three  months,  John  Langdon,  Timothy 
Wright,  Philip  Lyon,  William  King,  Jr.;  in  1755,  for  eight 
months,  Sergt.  Daniel  Cadwell,  Sergt.  Paul  Langdon,  Corp. 
Isaac  Colton,  Corp  Aaron  Bliss,  Aaron  Alvord,  Aaron  Warriner, 
Stephen  Bliss,  Jesse  Warner,  Aaron  Parsons,  Benjamin  War- 
riner, Samuel  Warner,  Benjamin  Wright.  They  were  in  the 
battle  near  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  George,  with  Baron 
Dieskau,  and  Lieutenant  Burt  of  the  company  was  killed;    In 


86  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

1759,  Benoni  Atchinson,  Moses  Bartlett,  Thomas  Dunham, 
Paul  Hitchcock,  Samuel  Warner,  Sr.,  Samuel  Warner,  Jr., 
Moses  Warriner. 

Samuel  Warner,  Sr.,  who  is  the  so-called  "Clark"  Warner, 
kept  a  Journal  of  this  expedition,  which  is  still  in  existence  and 
from  which  I  will  make  a  few  extracts.  He  was  in  Capt.  John 
Bancroft's  Company,  and  Col.  Timothy  Ruggles's  Regiment. 
I  will  commence  with  the  brief  account  he  gives  of  the  trip  from 
Albany  to  Fort  Edward. 

' '  I  now  give  an  a  Coumpt  of  our  March  from  Albana  to  fort 
Edward.  We  loaded  19  Barrils  of  flower  and  pork  in  a  batoo  and 
Carrid  them  within  three  miles  of  Stillwarter  and  there  on 
Looded  in  the  hull  of  our  Regiment  there  was  about  1100  Barrils 
and  then  we  went  to  Stillwarters  and  Looded  25  Barrils  in  Each 
Battoo  which  made  about  1400  and  Carrid  them  up  to  about  a 
mile  above  Sototoga  and  onloded  the  Same  and  then  went 
about  one  mile  and  then  Looded  22  Barrils  which  made  1300 
and  Carrid  them  to  the  fott  of  the  falls  at  fort  miller  onloded 
them  there  the  Batoos  was  caried  about  half  a  mile  and  the 
provision  and  then  Looded  againe  20  B  arils  1150  and  Carrid 
them  to  fort  Edward  this  is  a  treu  acount  a  varey  hard  voige 
we  had.  frey  Day  8'*"  Day  (June)  this  Day  varey  Clowday. 
Ran  and  Cold  in  the  morning  and  afterwards  more  moderate 
and  Sun  Shine.  Varey  Cold  att  Night  and  just  in  the  morning 
We  had  a  varey  grate  Larrom  by  the  polesy  of  the  jeneral 
amhers[t]  ordered  a  party  of  men  att  the  falls  to  fier  there  guns 
att  a  marke  varey  Brisk  on  purpos  to  See  what  Ready nes  the 
armey  would  Be  in  the  armey  was  all  Drawd  up  in  arms. 

"Sabday  10'^  this  day  6  o'clock  the  hilanders  fierd  one 
Round  Distinct  one  after  a  nither  and  a  fare  plesant  Day  after- 
wards our  soldiers  went  to  Battooing  onley  saveing  the  quarter 
guard  and  a  few  that  was  not  well. 

"Thosday  14'*^ This  morning  there  was  two  Rodeisland 

men  whipt  for  Desart  one  of  them  500  the  other  999  this  day  is 
the  first  prayer  we  heard  at  Night. 

"Saturday  16'^  this  Day  there  was  one  of  the  Conccticots 
Brought  to  place  of  Execution  in  order  to  be  shot  to  Death  for 
Desartion  &  after  giving  warning  to  others  and  then  makeing 
of  a  prayer  he  was  placst  upon  his  Knees  &  his  cap  over  his  face 
Reseved  a  pardon  yesterday  and  to  day  we  Looded  about 
300  Batoos  and  they  was  carrid  to  half  way  Boock  and  100 
teems. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  87 

"Monday  18^'' this  morning  I  was  put  under  gard. 

"Tuesday  19 a  Cort  Marshil  upon  a  young  man  and  Rise 

&  myself  to-day  for  Nothin  worth  a  menshing  the  young  man 
Becas  his  gun  went  of  upon  half  Bent  and  myself  Becase  I  did 
not  goo  So  quick  and  Call  my  sun  when  Sergeant  Daniel  Miller 
Bid  me  goo  I  Being  upon  other  Duty  the  same  time  yet  I  went 
Not  Withstanding  But  I  had  my  dismisshon  without  any  thing 
more  said  to  me. 

"Thursday  21^*^  this  Day  we  marcht  from  fort  Edward  with 
about  ten  Reigements  we  struck  our  tents  about  brake  of  Day 
slong  our  packs  about  Sun  Rise  and  stood  with  y""  on  a  full  ouer 
then  marcht  forward  Nor  onlooded  Nor  Rested  till  we  got 
within  five  miles  of  Lake  gorge  there  Rested  about  one  ouer  and 
half  varey  hot  men  allmost  Beet  out  By  going  without  vittuals 
in  the  morning  about  500  teems  and  wagins  the  officers  had  no 
packs  the  general  and  other  big  officers  had  horsis  and  Servens 
they  did  not  Consider  the  poor  solders  Had  they  Had  any  Com- 
passhoon  upon  poore  Solders  they  wood  not  a  dun  as  they  Did 
one  man  Dyed  By  Reson  of  Such  Hard  traveling  and  Drinking 
of  warter  this  was  a  Conectucut  man  and  two  or  three  more  it 
was  said  they  ware  a  Dying  the  anney  was  marcht  of  in  the 
morning  on  a  sudden  and  had  not  time  to  git  any  Refreshment 
to  Carey  with  them  But  God  in  His  providence  has  spared 
inen's  Lives  &  Carrid  threw  heathen  to  we  shall  not  Dey  Before 
our  time. 

"Sabday  l?'*"  there  was  a  fiagg  of  truse  Came  in  to  half  way 
Bruck  to  see  whether  we  had  any  prreasners  to  Exchang. 

"Tuesday  26 this  Day  order  Came  out  in  general  that 

No  solder  should  drink  any  warter  without  it  Being  Boild 
Except  he  had  ginger  in  it. 

"Wensday  27 Benoney  atchinson  and  Isaac  Whittemore 

Come  here  to  Day. 

"Sabday  July  P' Orders  Came  out  that  every  one  of  us 

shoold  fix  a  wooden  flint  in  his  gun  two  Capt  Came  in  this  Day 
from  the  french 

"  Munday  2^ about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  partey 

of  about  60  of  the  inemy  fell  on  a  party  of  the  gersey  Bleu  and 
Kild  8  and  scalpt  them  upon  the  Spot  and  wounded  3  more  this 
was  in  full  view  of  our  armey  a  more  protickular  a  compt  there 
was  18  of  the  garsey  bleu  went  to  git  Bare  one  the  North  of  our 
Camps  and  thare  was  it  was  soposed  about  three  or  five  score  of 
the  inemy  got  Between  our  men  and  the  gard 

"Saturday  7"^  I  went  about  the  Element  Hill  on  the  North 
End  of  it  there  is  a  fort  of  14  squares  or  turns  in  it  made  with 


88  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

wood  and  stoane  and  a  Horspottal  of  Stoane  the  Length  about 
8  Roods  the  wedth  about  Eighteen  feet  from  out  side  to  out 
side  the  thickness  of  the  Wale  two  feet  and  Y2  the  hith  about 
five  feet. 

"Sabday    8''' three    men    Belonging    to    Co"    Whiteens 

Ri'"t  Dyed  in  one  Horspiteetel  this  Day  was  a  Varey  grate  Day 
of  Blooing  of  Rocks. 

"Munday  9"" We  have  the  News  of  gen'  Woolfs  takeing 

of  some  strong  place  up  Canaday  River  this  Day  there  came  in 
a  party  of  the  Indions  under  the  coinmand  of  Capt  Jacob  that 
went  down  the  Lake  some  Days  ago  tis  said  the  Indias  fel  on 
him  &  wounded  y*^  Cap''  and  another  of  his  men.  I  tuck  more 
observation  of  Buldings  and  in  sted  of  one  Hospotitel  there  is 
three  more  all  in  a  few  Roods  of  one  a  nither  one  stoon  two 
wood  Housen. 

"Saterday  2P'  this  day  the  armey  marcht  for  ticonderoga 
they  struck  there  tents  about  three  o'clok  in  the  morning  and 
about  sun  rise  the  Bigest  part  of  the  armey  got  to  the  warter 
side  they  Borded  three  Batoos  about  Sun  an  ouer  and  half  high 
and  set  of  about  twelve  o'clock  they  ware  out  of  sight  and  they 
Cep  a  going  of  all  the  Day  afterwards  10-20-30  Batoos  to  a 
time  till  sun  one  ouer  and  }A  high  att  night  then  the  Sloop  set 
sail  and  att  Sun  Down  she  was  about  15  miles  of  tis  soposed  to 
be  12000  men  15  morters  12.12  pounders  6.24  pounders  of  Brase 
3  18  potmders  of  Iron  &  a  grate  numbere  of  swivels  this  Day 
there  is  a  grate  morning  among  the  Wiming  as  if  they  had  Lost 
there  Husboms 

"Thusday  [August]  2^  this  day  12  o'clock  news  came  that 
crown  point  was  Blown  up  By  the  french  the  truth  I  will 
waight  for  Esq  Woodbridge  says  it  is  treu  without  fail  and  the 
french  are  a  fortifying  about  ten  or  15  miles  Beyond. 

"Teusday  7""  By  the  Reson  of  the  Heat  the  Injineare  and 
two  or  three  more  ware  Carid  from  thare  work  to  thare 
tents  and  I  ware  varey  much  put  to  it  to  keep  upon  my 
Leegs. 

"Munday  3^  [September]  Rain  the  bigest  part  of  the  day 
and  y^  co"  said  Dam  it  you  shall  work  so  we  Did  and  it  rained 
all  night. 

"Saterday  15'''  about  one  o'clock  had  orders  to  march  to 
crown  point  and  about  dark  I  sot  of  for  the  same  with  30  men. 

"Sabday  16"^  morning  we  landed  att  tyconde  Roga  Before 
Sun  Rise  and  then  marcht  Right  of  to  crown  point  and  got 
there  Sun  two  ours  high 

"Thosday   P*^   [November]   Last   Night  a   Number  of   men 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  89 

under  gard  for  tempting  to  goo  hum  and  to  Day  a  member  of 
the  garsey  Blews  under  gard  but  Dismist  to  Day. 

"Sabday  25"^  [17  Days  lost  of  the  Journal]  ground  frose  hard 
We  marched  to  Davises  fort  and  campt  there. 

"Munday  26"^^  cold  and  snow  and  hold  to  while  noon  then 
Rain.  We  marched  to  Northfield  and  Lay  there  Capt  putnam 
of  Rode  Island  Dyed  att 

"Teusday  27'^  Cold  Rainy  Day  I  marcht  from  Northfield  to 
Sunderland  I  logged  at  Carsons  Warner's. 

"Wensday  28""  This  Day  fare  and  plesant  morning  and 
south  winds  varey  raw  afterwards  I  went  from  Sunderland  to 
my  one  hous  this  day." 

The  distance  of  the  precinct  from  Springfield  Street,  the  regu- 
larly increasing  population,  the  different  interests  of  the  people, 
and  their  demonstrated  capacity  to  administer  affairs,  prompted 
the  inhabitants  as  early  as  January  16,  1749,  "to  chuse  three 
men  [David  Mirick,  Isaac  Brewer  and  Nathaniel  Warriner]  a 
Committee  to  Represent  the  Precinct  to  the  town  of  Springfield 
in  taking  some  measures  to  get  set  off  for  a  town  in  this  fourth 
Precinct."  The  action  of  the  town  of  Springfield  was  un- 
favorable to  their  cause ;  and  they  delayed  further  attempts  till 
December  31,  1753,  four  years,  when  they  again  "voated  to 
chuse  a  committee  [Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner,  David  Mirick 
and  L^  Sam"  Day]  to  apply  to  the  town  of  Springfield  to  see  if 
they  be  willing  we  should  be  set  of  a  District."  Nothing  seems 
to  have  come  of  this  petition,  for  I  find  an  article — on  which, 
however  no  action  seems  to  have  been  taken — inserted  in  the 
warrant  for  a  meeting,  January  1,  1760,  "To  chuse  a  Committee 
to  apply  to  the  town  to  set  us  of  to  be  a  District."  Again 
January  1,  1761,  it  is  "voted  that  Deacon  Nath.  Warriner, 
Daniel  Warner,  William  King  be  a  Com'^'^  to  apply  to  the 
Town  for  their  Consent  that  we  be  set  of  a  District;"  and,  in 
the  following  March  24,  1761,  it  is  "voted  that  the  same 
Com'^^'^  which  were  Chosen  to  Apply  to  the  Town  to  set  us  of  a 
District  be  further  Impowered  to  Apply  to  the  General  Court 
for  a  Confirmation  of  the  same  on  the  Precincts  Cost  and 
Charge." 

As  obstacles  rise,  their  courage  rises.     Failure  inspires  with 


90  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

new  resolutions.  They  determine  to  try  what  virtue  there  is  in 
new  men  and  more  of  them,  the  south  part  of  the  precinct  com- 
ing to  the  rescue,  and  the  next  year,  January  7,  1762,  it  is 
"Voted  that  John  BHss,  William  King,  Daniel  Cadwell,  Stephen 
Stebbins  and  James  Warriner  be  a  Com*^^  to  apply  to  the 
Town  for  their  Consent  that  we  be  set  of  a  District  or  Town." 
Not  much  progress  appears  to  have  been  made  in  softening  the 
hearts  and  subduing  the  wills  of  the  town,  for  on  the  following 
March  22,  1762,  it  is  "Voted  that  Stephen  Stebbins,  James 
Warriner  and  Daniel  Cadwell  be  a  Committee  to  Apply  to  the 
Town  and  General  Court,  if  need  be,  to  see  if  they  will  sett  of 
this  Precinct  a  separate  Town  or  District."  These  repeated 
petitions  are  evidently  producing  their  effect,  for  once  more, 
with  renewed  vigor,  they  vote,  January  3,  1763,  that  "Dec" 
Nathaniel  Warriner,  L"  Tho^  Mirick  and  Stephen  Stebbins  be 
a  Com'^'^*^  in  behalf  of  the  Precinct  to  Apply  to  the  Town  of 
Springfield  for  their  Consent  to  be  Sett  of  a  Separate  Town  or 
District,  &  that  they  be  fully  Impowerd  to  Persue  our  Petition 
to  the  General  Court  in  Ord''  to  be  Sett  of  afores'^." 

This  committee  succeeded  in  their  endeavors.  Fourteen 
years  after  their  first  petition  went  to  Springfield,  delayed, 
defeated,  but  never  subdued  or  discouraged,  they  at  last 
wring,  by  their  tireless  importunity,  a  favorable  answer  to  their 
prayer.  Their  petition  was  granted,  and  the  Act  of  Incorpora- 
tion was  signed  by  Sir  Francis  Bernard,  Governor  of  the 
Province,  June  15,  1763, — one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago, — 
by  which  act  the  fourth  parish  in  Springfield  was  erected  a 
separate  town  by  the  name  of  Wilbraham,  and  there  were 
granted  to  the  town  all  the  privileges  and  immunities  of  other 
towns  with  the  anomalous  exception  of  the  power  of  choosing 
a  representative  to  the  General  Court;  in  this  election,  they 
must  still  unite  with  Springfield. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  91 

ACT  OF  INCORPORATION 


ANNO     REGNI  /      HERE  IS  THE     \\  "  =  *^  '  * 

GEORGII     TERTII     l\    COLONY  SEAL     J  tERTIO 


[In  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of  George  the  Third] 

An  Act  for  incorporating  the  Fourth  Parish  of  Springfield  in 
the  County  of  Hampshire  into  a  separate  Town  by  the  name  of 
Wilbraham. 

Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Fourth  Parish  in  said  Spring- 
field have  represented  to  this  Court  that  they  labour  under 
great  Inconveniences  and  Difficulties  in  attending  on  the 
Publick  Affairs  of  the  said  Town,  by  reason  of  their  great  dis- 
tance from  the  usual  Place  where  they  are  transacted  etc :  and 
that  they  are  increased  to  such  ntimbers  that  it  may  be  fitting 
that  they  should  be  incorporated  into  a  separate  Town,  and 
have  accordingly  petitioned  this  Court  therefor — 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  House  of 
Representatives,  That  the  said  fourth  Parish  in  said  Springfield 
with  the  addition  of  half  a  mile  West  from  the  West  line  of  Said 
Parish  from  Chicobee  River  on  the  North,  to  the  northerly 
Line  of  the  Township  of  Somers  on  the  South  be  erected  into  a 
separate  Town  by  the  name  of  Wilbraham  and  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  Town  be  invested  with  all  the  Powers  and  Privi- 
ledges  that  Towns  in  this  Province  enjoy  by  Law,  that  of  send- 
ing a  Representative  to  this  Court  only  excepted.  And  that 
the  said  Town  shall  have  full  Right  and  Liberty  from  Time  to 
Time  to  join  with  said  Town  of  Springfield  in  the  choice  of 
Representatives,  to  represent  them  at  the  General  Assembly, 
And  that  the  said  Town  of  Wilbraham  shall  from  Time  to 
Time  be  at  their  Proportionable  Part  of  the  Expense  of  such 
Representatives,  and  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
Wilbraham  shall  be  notified  of  the  Time  and  Place  of  Election 


92  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

in  like  manner  as  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Springfield,  by  a 
warrant  from  the  Selectmen  of  said  Springfield,  directed  to  the 
Constable  of  said  Wilbraham,  directing  him  to  warn  the  In- 
habitants of  said  Wilbraham  to  attend  the  said  meeting  at  the 
Time  and  Place  therein  assigned  and  that  the  Pay  of  said 
Representatives  be  borne  by  said  Towns  of  Springfield  and 
Wilbraham  in  the  same  Proportion  from  Time  to  Time  as  they 
pay  to  the  Province  Tax.  And  in  order  efi^ectually  to  Prevent 
all  future  Dispute  that  might  otherwise  arise  between  the  said 
Towns  of  Springfield  and  Wilbraham  respecting  their  joint 
Interests  or  joint  Duties; 

Be  it  Enacted,  That  the  said  Town  of  Wilbraham  shall  enjoy 
the  two  Ministry  and  School  Lots  in  said  Town,  in  full  Satisfac- 
tion of  their  Share  in  the  Ministry  and  School  Lands  in  said 
Town  of  Springfield,  and  of  the  Money  and  Debts  due  to  said 
Town :  That  they  pay  their  due  Proportion  of  the  Town  Debts 
already  contracted,  and  have  their  due  Proportion  of  the  Town 
Stock  of  Ammtmition:  That  they  pa}^  to  the  Support  of  the 
present  Poor  of  said  Town  of  Springfield  (now  supported  at  the 
Town  Charge)  Eleven  Pounds  in  One  Hundred  so  long  as  they 
shall  Continue  a  Charge  to  said  Town;  and  that  this  Act  shall 
not  be  construed  to  hinder  or  prevent  any  Persons,  Inhabi- 
tants of  said  Springfield  from  Cutting  Timber  or  Taking 
Herbage  or  Stone  on  any  of  the  Lands  in  said  Wilbraham  so 
long  as  they  remain  unfenced,  any  more  than  if  this  Act  had 
not  been  made. 

And  be  it  further  Enacted,  That  John  Worthington,  Esq.  be 
and  hereby  is  empowered  and  directed  to  issue  his  Warrant 
directed  to  some  principal  Inhabitant  of  said  Wilbraham 
requiring  him  to  warn  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  qualified 
to  vote  in  Town  affairs  to  assemble  at  some  suitable  Time  and 
Place  in  said  Town,  to  choose  such  Officers  as  may  be  necessary 
to  manage  the  affairs  of  said  Town,  which  at  such  meeting 
they  are  hereby  empowered  to  choose. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Wilbraham 
shall  pay  their  proportional  Part  of  all  such  Province  and 
County  Taxes  as  are  already  set  upon  them  by  the  said  Town  of 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  93 

Springfield  in  like  manner  as  the'  this  Act  had  not  been 
made. 

And  be  it  further  Enacted,  That  of  the  sum  set  on  the  Town 
of  Springfield  as  their  Proportion  with  other  Towns  in  a  Tax  of 
one  Thousand  Pounds,  for  the  future  of  the  said  Town  of  Spring- 
field, shall  retain  the  sum  of  Eleven  Pounds  two  Shillings  and 
ten  Pence  two  Farthings;  and  that  there  be  set  on  the  said 
Town  of  Wilbraham  the  suin  of  one  Pound  thirteen  Shillings 
and  six  Pence  as  their  Rate  or  Proportion  for  their  Payment  of 
publick  Taxes. 

June  14'^  1763 — This  Bill  having  been  read  three  several 
Times  in  the  House  of  Representatives — Passed  to  be  enacted. 

TlM°   RUGGLES   Spk"" 

June  14*^^  1763 — This  Bill  having  been  read  three  several 
Times  in  Council — 
Passed  to  be  Enacted. 

A.  Oliver  Secy 
June  15'^  1763 — By  the  Governor 
I  consent  to  the  enacting  of  this  Bill. 

Fra  Bernard 

In  his  address  in  1831,  speaking  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town,  Dr.  S.  F.  Merrick  says:  "In  1763  the  parish  was  incor- 
porated into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Wilbraham,  the  name  was 
very  grevious  to  us  and  we  are  hardly  reconciled  to  it  yet."  It 
seems  strange  that  a  name  should  have  been  selected,  that  was 
"very  grevious"  to  the  people  of  the  town. 

The  Stebbins  History  says,  "The  town  appears  to  have 
received  its  name  either  from  an  English  Baronet  of  the  name 
of  Wilbraham  or  from  the  Parish  called  Wilbraham,  situated 
near  Cambridge  in  England. — Sir  Thomas  Wilbraham  died  in 
1692. — If  the  people  of  Wilbraham  supposed  their  town  was 
named  for  this  bitter  royalist  and  anti-Puritan,  it  may  account 
for  their  dissatisfaction." 

"But  there  is  another  way  of  accounting  for  the  name. 
Wilburgham,  or  Wilbraham,  as  the  modern  spelling  is,  is  a 
parish  or  town  in  the  hundred  of  Staine,  County  of  Cambridge, 


94  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

seven  miles  from  Cambridge,  northeasterly.  There  are  two 
villages,  'Wilbraham  Great,'  and  'Wilbraham  Little.' — 
"Rowland  Stebbins,  the  ancestor  of  the  Stebbinses,  and  William 
Pynchon,  the  ancestor  of  the  Pynchons,  and  the  original  pro- 
prietor of  Springfield,  originated  in  the  near  neighborhood  of 
these  Wilbrahams,  and  came  from  near  them  to  this  country." 
It  is  very  probable  that  through  the  influence  of  the  descendants 
of  Stebbins  and  Pynchon,  the  name  Wilbraham  may  have  been 
selected  for  this  town."  In  a  History  of  New  England,  pub- 
lished in  1879,  I  find  the  following  relating  to  the  meaning  of 
the  name:  "The  inhabitants  of  Wilbraham,  at  the  time  of  its 
incorporation,  objected  strenuously,  but  vainly,  to  the  name 
attached  to  them,  which  has  the  significance  of  'Wild  Boar's 
Home." 

There  are  a  few  persons  in  this  country  with  that  name. 
And  several  years  ago  there  was  a  firm  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
dealing  in  carriage  makers'  supplies,  of  the  name  of  "Wilbra- 
ham Bros."  Sometime  ago,  as  I  have  been  told,  there  was  a 
student  here  at  the  Academy,  of  that  name.  One  day,  soon 
after  his  arrival,  he  rushed  into  the  post  office,  at  the  time  of 
the  distribution  of  the  morning  mail  and  cried  out,  "Any 
letters  for  'Wilbraham'  to-day?"  The  postmaster  thought  he 
was  acting  a  little  "fresh,"  and  answered,  "Well!  I  should  say 
there  was."  But  as  he  did  not  pass  out  any,  the  young  man 
soon  explained  that  Wilbraham  was  his  name. 

Today,  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the  incorporation 
of  the  town,  we  have  no  feeling  of  resentment  against  the  anti- 
Puritan  Baronet,  "Sir  Thomas  Wilbraham;"  we  have  a  kindly 
feeling  towards  "Wilbraham  Great,"  and  "Wilbraham  Little," 
of  Old  England;  we  can  afford  to  laugh  at  the  supposed  mean- 
ing, "Wild  Boar's  Home,"  and  we  are  all  glad  that  the  name  of 
our  dear  old  town  is  WILBRAHAM. 

About  fifteen  years  ago,  while  in  a  southern  state,  I  was 
telephoning  a  message  to  the  central  office,  to  be  sent  by  tele- 
graph to  this  town.  A  negro  was  taking  the  message  and  when 
that  was  finished,  I  told  him  over  the  telephone  that  I  wanted 
to  be  sure  that  he  had  the  name  of  the  town  right,  as  there  were 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  95 

other  towns  in  Massachusetts  with  somewhat  similar  names, 
and  I  mentioned  WilHamstown  and  WilHamsburg.  "Yes  sir," 
he  said,  "  I  think  I  have  it  right;  Wil-bra-ham,  not  A-bra-ham." 
I  told  him  that  he  had  it  right. 

The  territory  of  the  precinct  was  enlarged,  in  the  act  of 
incorporation,  by  the  addition  of  a  strip  of  land  on  the  west 
side,  from  the  "inner  commons,"  half  a  mile  wide,  extending 
from  the  Chicopee  River  to  the  Connecticut  line.  In  1780, 
when  the  line  of  Connecticut  was  accurately  surveyed,  there 
fell  to  our  portion  another  strip  of  land,  called  the  "Oblong" 
or  "Wales,"  about  a  mile  in  width  at  one  end,  and  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  at  the  other,  across  the  whole  width  of  the  town.  And 
finally,  to  render  any  further  allusion  to  the  territory  of  the 
town  unnecessary,  I  will  add  that,  in  1799,  thirty-six  years 
after  the  town  was  incorporated,  that  portion  of  the  first 
division  of  the  "outward  commons  of  Springfield,"  which  lay 
on  the  east  side  of  Chicopee  River,  now  called  the  "Elbows," 
then  "Kingsfield  or  Kingstown,"  on  the  north  side  of  the  Bay 
Road,  was  added  to  the  town.  By  these  additions,  the  town 
was  made  four  and  a  half  miles  wide,  as  far  north  as  its  western 
line  extended.  Its  length,  on  the  west  side,  was  eight  miles  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty-two  rods;  and  on  its  eastern  side  its 
length  was  ten  miles  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  rods. 

But  some  of  the  early  settlers  had  gone,  and  enjoyed  not  the 
ripe  clusters  of  their  hopes  and  labors.  A  few  had  left  the  pre- 
cinct. Of  the  pioneers,  David  Merrick,  Abel  Bliss,  Samuel 
Stebbins,  and  Paul  Langdon,  had  died.  There  had  been  births 
to  rejoice  and  deaths  to  grieve  them  during  this  period.  Infancy 
and  manhood  went  down  to  the  grave,  and  the  "grave-yard," 
which  they  had  raised  many  pounds  to  keep  "decent,"  was 
becoming  the  sacred  treasury  of  many  of  their  dear  ones. 
There  had  been  eighty-eight  deaths  since  the  settlement,  three 
before  the  incorporation  of  the  precinct.  There  had  been  also 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  births,  and  if  we  include  those 
bom  in  the  half-mile  added  from  the  "inner  commons"  and  in 
the  strip  called  Wales,  annexed  to  the  south  end  of  the  town, 
there  had  been  three  hundred  and  sixty-six  births.    The  popu- 


96  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

lation  of  the  town  at  the  time  of  incorporation,  June  15,  1763, 
could  not  have  varied  much  from  four  hundred  and  fifty  or 
five  hundred  persons. 

The  population  of  Wilbraham  as  given  by  the  state  census 

was  as  follows: 

year,  1765—  491 
"  1776—1057 
"  1790—1555 
"   1800—1743 

The  first  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  was  issued  by  John 
Worthington,  Esq.,  of  Springfield,  to  Stephen  Stebbins,  of 
Wilbraham,  Yeoman,  bearing  date  August  8,  1763,  requiring 
him  "to  warn  the  Inhabitants  of  Said  Town  of  Wilbraham 
Quallifyed  by  law  to  vote  in  Town  affairs  that  [they]  meet  and 
Assemble  together  at  the  Meeting  House  in  S''  Wilbraham  on 
Thursday  the  Twenty-first  Day  of  Aug'  Currant  At  one  of  the 
Clock  in  the  afternoon  Then  and  there  to  Choose  a  Moderator 
to  preside  and  Conduct  the  Said  Meeting — and  then  to  Choose 
all  such  Town  Officers  as  may  be  Necessary  to  Manage  the 
affairs  of  Said  Town  and  Towns  in  this  Province  are  by  law 
Oblige  to  Choose."  "Stephen  Stebbins,  Yeoman,  failed  not" 
to  "warn"  the  people,  nor  were  the  people  slow  to  hear  and 
obey  the  warning.  They  "assembled  and  met  together"  as 
required,  August  25,  1763,  and  it  was  "Voted  that  L'  Thom^ 
Mirick  Should  be  Moderator  for  S'l  Meeting.  Voted  that 
Ezra  Barker  [he  who  was  called  Master  Barker]  Should  be 
Clerk  for  Said  Town."  The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  one 
o'clock  the  next  day  to  give  the  "Clerk"  opportunity  to  go  to 
Springfield  to  be  sworn,  for  there  was  no  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
Wilbraham  in  those  days.  ' '  Josiah  Dwight  Jus*^  Peace ' '  certifies 
that  Ezra  Barker  "took  the  Oath  Respecting  the  Bills  of  the 
other  Government  and  the  Same  Time  the  Oath  of  Office  as  a 
Clerk  for  Said  Town  of  Wilbraham."  Barker  hastens  back  to 
town  meeting  at  one  o'clock,  when  the  rest  of  the  town  officers 
are  duly  chosen:  "Selectmen,  Treasurer,  Constables,  Assessors, 
Tithing  Men,  Surveyors  of  Highways,  Fence  Viewers,  Dear 
Reavers,  Sealers  of  Leather,  Hogg  Reaves,  Wardens,  Surveyor 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  97 

of  Shingles,  Claboards,  &c.,  Surveyors  of  Wheat."  There  is  no 
tradition  that  there  had  been  any  caucusing  previously  to  the 
meeting,  but  there  was  some  sly  waggery  among  these  grand- 
fathers of  ours  on  town -meeting  day.  It  is  recorded  by  Ezra, 
the  Clerk,  that  "Serg'  Moses  Burt  &  W"^  Stacy  Hogg  Reaves 
(were)  not  Sworn  at  This  Time  being  absent.''  Four  days  after, 
the  honest  clerk  records  that  "Serg'  Moses  Burt  and  W""  Stacy 
Refus'^  taking  their  oath  of  Office,  They  being  chosen  Hogg 
Reaves! ' ' 

Three  officers  are  named  here  whose  duties  ceased  long  since 
and  of  which  the  younger  portion  of  this  assembly  require  an 
explanation.  The  "Warden's"  duty  was  to  see  that  no  tres- 
passes were  made  on  the  common  lands,  by  destroying  the 
timber,  and  carrying  off  valuable  property  for  private  uses  con- 
trary to  law.  The  "Dear  Reaves"  were  to  see  that  deer  were 
not  hunted  and  taken  at  unsuitable  seasons  of  the  year.  The 
"Tithing  Men"  were  to  see  that  the  Sunday  laws  were  obeyed, 
and  especially  that  frisky  boys  and  girls  in  the  galleries  at  the 
meeting  house  should  restrain  their  playfulness  and  dumb 
telegraphing  to  each  other  while  the  sacred  services  continued. 
The  latter  was  a  task  requiring  ceaseless  vigilance,  and  often 
was  regarded  as  "labor  spent  for  naught  and  in  vain." 

The  town  is  now  organized.  Money  must  be  raised  and 
appropriated  for  highways,  schools,  the  poor,  and  the  ministry. 
We  may  well  arrange  our  survey  of  this  period  under  the  three 
general  heads  of  Municipal,  Ecclesiastical,  and  Revolutionary 
History.  At  the  second  meeting,  held  December  1,  1763,  the 
first  money  was  raised  and  appropriated:  for  the  "Support  of 
Schooling,"  £  15;  for  Mr.  Merrick's  salary,  £  51,  2  s.;  for  the 
support  of  the  poor,  £  2,  5  s. ;  for  fines,  15  s.;  pound,  £  2; 
service  of  bulls,  £  3,  10  s.;  contingent  charges,  £  1;  in  all, 
£  76,  2  s.  The  first  money  appropriated,  be  it  known,  and  let  it 
be  borne  in  everlasting  remembrance,  was  for  the  "Support  of 
Schooling,"  an  indication  not  to  be  mistaken  of  the  value  set  by 
our  fathers  upon  education.  The  sum  is  small,  it  is  true,  but 
they  were  poor,  their  harvests  were  scanty,  their  families  large, 
and  they  were  still  struggling  for  the  common  comforts  of  life. 


98  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

At  the  next  meeting,  January  3,  1764,  a  committee  of  five  is 
chosen  to  divide  the  "Town  into  Districts  for  Schools;"  and 
it  is  voted  "that  the  said  Committee  Should  Divide  the  Money 
Granted  at  this  meeting  for  the  use  of  SchooHng  in  This  Town 
and  Proportion  the  same  Equally  to  each  District  when  Divided 
in  method  following,  viz :  one-half  of  said  money  to  be  Divided 
upon  Poles  and  Estates  and  the  other  half  to  be  Divided  upon 
Children  from  4  to  12  years  of  age."  Though  these  districts 
were  laid  out  in  1764  I  find  no  record  of  their  number  or 
boundaries  till  1775,  when  the  old  districts  were  remodelled  and 
ten  districts  were  formed,  and  the  same  year  the  town  raised 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  dollars  for  schools,  which 
would  give  to  each  district  only  the  poor  pittance  of  twelve 
dollars  and  sixty  cents  for  the  support  of  a  school.  The  whole 
amount  of  money  raised  for  schools  to  1774,  ten  years  from  the 
incorporation  of  the  town,  was  £  217,  an  average  of  a  little  over 
£21  a  year,  or  about  $70.  The  two  "School  lots,"  which  were 
assigned  for  the  support  of  schools  in  the  allotment  of  1684,  and 
also  the  share  of  Mr.  Clark,  who  left  the  county  and  gave  his 
land  for  the  support  of  schools,  were  sold  after  very  much 
difficulty  and  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the  town  and  of  buyers. 
The  income  from  this  fund  was  added  to  the  sum  which  the 
town  raised.  But  one  schoolhouse  was  built  in  town  during  this 
period.  It  was  on  the  mountain,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Ridge 
Road  and  north  of  the  most  northerly  road  that  leads  over  to 
East  Street;  very  near  the  site  of  the  present  schoolhouse  in 
District  No.  5,  and  was  erected  at  the  expense  of  that  school 
district.  There  were  then  but  two  schoolhouses  in  the  town, 
this  and  the  one  which  stood,  as  early  as  1754,  nearly  opposite 
the  site  of  the  present  Congregational  Church  in  the  north 
parish.  The  schools  were  kept  in  the  rooms  of  private  houses, 
and  not  seldom  were  taught  by  the  farmers  who  could  read  and 
write  a  little.  There  were  three  celebrated  teachers,  however, — 
Master  Barker  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  Masters 
Moses  and  Enos  Stebbins  in  the  south  part.  The  ' '  lesser  lights 
of  knowledge  were  few  and  dim.  Dillworth's  Spelling-Book 
and  the  Psalter,  and  later  Webster's  Spelling-Book  and  Third 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  99 

Part  were  the  books  used  for  reading  and  spelling;  Hodder's 
and  Root's  Arithmetic  for  ciphering,  when  any  scholar  ventured 
upon  that  dark  art.  The  master  only  had  an  arithmetic  and 
the  sums  were  given  out  to  the  scholar  and  written  down;  he 
"did"  them  at  his  leisure.  No  slates  were  used  till  after  this 
period;  ink  and  paper,  coal  and  board,  nail  and  birch-bark 
were  the  mathematical  apparatus.  The  knowledge  communi- 
cated was  very  meagre,  children  rarely  attending  school  after 
twelve  years  of  age,  if  the  limit  in  the  division  of  the  school 
money  enables  us  to  determine. 

The  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  town  went  on  by  no  means 
smoothly.  The  south  part  of  the  town  was  increasing  rapidl}^ 
in  population,  both  by  births  and  immigrations,  and  was  not 
disposed  to  aid  in  repairing  the  meeting  house,  or  building  new 
pews  in  it;  and  not  seldom  the  controversies  were  sharp  and 
long  on  these  topics.  Once  at  least  as  a  compromise,  persons 
were  permitted  to  build  pews  at  their  own  cost. 

The  method  of  "seating"  the  meeting  house  was  productive 
of  more  and  more  dissatisfaction,  the  doings  of  the  "seating 
committee"  being  sometimes  wholly  rejected,  and  very  often, 
almost  always,  amended. 

"The  proverbial  difficulty  of  managing  singing,  and  especially 
singers,  was  felt  most  keenly  and  treated  most  unwisely.  It  is 
evident  that  the  'rising  generation,'  our  great-grandfathers, 
were  weary  of  the  '  leading '  of  good  Deacon  Warriner,  who  had 
now,  from  the  'deacon's  seat'  under  the  pulpit,  raised  the 
pitch,  and  literally  led  the  singing  for  over  twenty  years.  The 
people  generally  felt  that  there  was  fulfilled  among  them  the 
prophecy  of  the  Prophet  Amos,  '  The  songs  of  the  temple  shall 
be  turned  into  bowlings.'  Singing  masters  had  made  their  way 
to  the  new  town.  New  music  came  with  them.  The  old  tunes 
were  laid  aside.  Strange  feats  of  voice  and  limb  were  per- 
formed by  mouth  and  arm  when  the  new  singers  came  into  the 
seats  in  the  gallery.  The  congregation  could  not  sing.  The 
poor  deacon's  voice  was  silent.  Great  were  the  'searchings  of 
heart'  among  the  ancients.  Most  unfortunately  of  all,  the 
town  took  the  matter  in  hand. 

"The  wisdorn  of  the  fathers  forsook  them.  The  flames  burned 
all  the  more  fiercely  for  being  fanned.     The  second  article  in 


100  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

the  warrant  for  town-meeting,  September  24,  1770,  was  'To  see 
whether  they  will  come  into  some  method  or  agreement  for 
more  Regular  Carrying  on  the  Singing  in  the  Public  worship  in 
this  town  than  it  is  at  the  present  time;'  and  the  third,  'To  see 
whether  the  Town  will  be  willing  to  sing  four  Times  in  the 
Publick  worship  on  the  Sabbath  for  the  future.'  It  is  pretty 
evident  that  this  movement  originated  with  the  new  singers. 
They  appear  to  be  ambitious  to  excel  in  quantity  as  well  as 
quality. 

"There  seems  to  have  been  no  opposition  worthy  of  record  to 
choosing  the  committee  asked  for,  and  ten  men  were  chosen 
'to  be  a  Com.,  to  take  into  consideration  the  Broken  state  of 
this  Town  with  regard  to  Singing  in  the  Publick  Assembly  on 
Sabbath  Days,  and  to  consult  together  and  agree  upon  some 
Plan  or  Method  whereby  to  encourage  &  promote  regular  and 
Universal  Singing  in  said  assembly,  &  make  report  thereof  to 
this  or  some  future  meeting.'  On  the  22d  of  October,  at  the 
adjourned  meeting,  the  committee  of  ten,  Nathaniel  Warriner. 
John  Bliss,  Thomas  Mirick,  Moses  Stebbins,  William  King, 
Ezra  Barker,  Daniel  Cadwell,  John  Jones,  Eliezer  Smith  and 
Phineas  Newton,  make  an  elaborate  report  covering  two  pages 
of  the  book  of  records  in  Master  Barker's  best  handwriting,  in 
which  a  list  of  twenty-three  tunes, — 'called  Low  Dutch, 
Windsor,  Old  lOOd,  New  lOOd,  Stroudwater,  Meer,  Buckland, 
Broomsgrove,  Bangor,  St.  Martin's,  Warwick,  St.  Hellens,  All- 
Saints,  Little  Marlborough,  Cambridge,  Portsmouth,  South- 
well, Quercy,  Worksop,  Wantage,  Standish,  New  York  and  149 
Psalm  Tune,' — is  given,  which  'shall  be  made  use  of  in  the 
Publick  worship  of  God  in  this  town;'  this  '  List  is  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  Mr.  Morgan  (now  singing-master  in  this  Town)  in 
order  that  he  may  Teach  or  Instruct  his  schollars  to  Sing  them 
according  to  Rule.'  No  other  tunes  are  to  be  introduced  with- 
out 'consent.'  'Dea°  Nath'l  Warriner  is  to  give  the  lead  in 
singing  on  the  forenoons  on  each  Sabbath  &  one  of  the  Young 
Men  lately  Instructed  by  Mr.  Stickney  (as  they  shall  agree 
among  themselves)  give  the  lead  in  singing  in  the  afternoon  of 
each  Sabbath  for  the  space  of  three  months  from  the  Date 
hereof,  excepting  when  Mr.  Morgan  is  present,  then  it  is  ex- 
pected he  will  carry  the  singing.'  They  also  report  'that  all 
who  Assist  in  Singing  Shall  be  at  their  pleasure  either  to  Stand 
or  Sit  when  Singing  without  giving  Offence  to  any;  that  the 
singers  lately  Instructed  by  Mr.  Stickney  who  are  seated  in  the 
Gallery  of  the  Meeting  House  are  at  their  Liberty  to  make  a 
decent  and  orderly  Exchange  of  Seats  as  They  Shall  agree 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  101 

among  themselves  and  so  to  Set  for  the  Space  of  Three  Months 
from  the  Date  hereof  and  no  longer,  or  else  to  continue  to  Set  as 
they  were  last  Seated;'  and  '6  thly'  and  lastly,  'that  whoever 
shall  lead  in  the  singing  shall  be  at  Liberty  to  Use  the  Motion  of 
his  hand  while  singing  for  the  Space  of  Three  Months  from  the 
Date  hereof  or  a  shorter  Space  as  need  shall  require."  Thus  far 
'the  committee'  'propose  to  be  tryed  by  vote.'  The  com- 
mittee then  recommend,  that  '  as  the  Beating  with  the  hand  in 
the  Congregation  when  singing  is  offensive  to  some  it  be  laid 
aside  as  quick  as  may  be  and  confine  the  same  to  the  school  only ; 
that  all  in  the  Town  whose  voices  will  admit  of  it  speedily  use 
proper  means  to  get  themselves  acquainted  with  the  art  of  Sing- 
ing Ruleably  &  well, — ^in  the  mean  time '  they  '  recommend  to 
all  both  old  and  Young  to  Join  in  Singing  in  the  Worshiping 
assembly  and  to  sing  as  well  as  they  can;  and  lastly,'  say  they, 
'  we  cannot  but  recommend  to  ourselves  &  others  to  studdy  the 
Things  which  make  for  peace,  and  the  things  where  by  we  may 
Edify  one  another.' 

"The  town  voted  what  the  committee  recommended.  But  it 
is  evident  that  the  flames  were  not  to  be  quenched  by  any  such 
appliances.  'Three  months'  grace  and  'no  longer'  is  given  to 
'Beating  with  the  hand'  and  occupying  'exchanged  seats'  if 
they  can  agree  to  exchange  which  is  very  doubtful.  The  con- 
gregation are  all  to  '  sing,  as  well  as  they  can '  it  is  true,  but  to 
'Join  in  Singing'  at  any  rate.  The  Stickneyites  in  the  'Gal- 
lery '  wotdd  hardly  be  '  satisfied.  The  compromise  is  like 
Nebuchadnezzar's  image,  gold  in  the  head,  but  '  clay  and  iron ' 
in  the  legs  and  feet.  So  it  turns  out,  as  the  'three  months'  are 
expiring,  that  an  article  is  inserted  in  the  warrant,  January  7, 
1771,  'to  pass  any  votes  in  further  addition'  to  those  before 
passed  '  as  the  Town  Shall  think  proper  by  further  lengthening 
the  Time  of  the  Present  Mode  of  Singing.'  This  article  came 
from  the  '  Gallery '  party  evidently.  It  is  followed  by  another 
which  came  from  the  'deacon's  seat,'  as  evidently.  Hear  it: 
'to  make  Inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  those  who  call  themselves 
the  singers  in  this  Town,  and  see  wheather  they  have  conducted 
or  proceeded  agreeable  to  the  report  of  the  Town's  Com"^'^,  and 
the  Town's  vote  thereupon  at  our  last  meeting  and  pass  such 
Vote  or  Votes  as  shall  be  thought  Necessary  in  consequence 
thereof.'  Greek  has  now  met  Greek.  At  the  meeting  it  is 
voted,  'That  Dea"  Nath'  Warriner  Shall  continue  to  set  the 
Psalm  as  Usual  During  the  Town's  Pleasure;  also  that  Moses 
Warriner  and  Jonathan  Bliss  do  the  same.'  The  'young  men' 
are  voted  down ;  the  '  Galleries '  are  in  a  minority ;  so  it  would 


102  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

seem.  But,  there  is  abundant  life  in  young  blood,  and  rally  in  jj; 
their  strenj2;th,  'a  motion  was  made  whether  the  singing  should 
he  performed  in  the  congregation  according  to  the  late  mode  by 
Beating  with  the  hand,'  etc.;  it  being  ])ut,  and  the  House  being 
Divided  it  ])assed  in  the  affirmative,  25  against  about  19.  The 
'  Deacon's  Seat '  now  loses,  but  does  not  yield ;  for  '  a  motion 
was  made '  to  Deside  it  by  the  Town  List  or  by  Lawful  Voters, 
and  after  some  debate  it  was  thrown  by  and  the  following  vote 
passed,  namely,  'Voted  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mirick  be  Desired  to 
call  a  Society  meeting  in  order  to  come  into  some  method  of 
Reconciliation  with  regard  to  Singing  in  the  Publiek  worship.' 
They  adjourn;  and  no  more  is  recorded  or  known  of  the  result. 
Poor  Mr.  Merrick  had  cares  enough  of  another  kind,  as  we  shall 
soon  see,  without  being  dragged  into  this  controversy  about  the 
singing.  Thus  ended  the  great  struggle  of  the  town  respecting 
the  method  of  '  Carrying  on  the  Singing  in  the  Public  Worship 
of  God.'  I  have  dwelt  upon  it  at  greater  length  than  the  sub- 
ject itself  deserved,  because  it  is  a  good  illustration  of  the 
attempts  of  our  ancestors  to  regulate  minute  affairs  by  town 
action.     Let  us  learn  wisdom  from  their  mistakes." 

Another  and  much  graver  difficulty  called  for  all  the  wisdom 
and  patience  of  the  town.  The  conditions  of  the  "Worthy  Mr. 
Mirick's"  settlement  were  of  such  a  kind  as  to  render  it  more 
and  more  difficult  to  fulfill  them.  Every  year  a  Committee  con- 
ferred with  him  and  agreed  upon  the  price  of  commodities :  and 
then  there  was  the  use  of  the  " Ministry  land"  whose  income  he 
was  to  have,  and  whose  leasing  and  renting  and  care  were  a  great 
annoyance.  More  than  all,  I  think  Mr.  Merrick  was  as  good  a 
farmer  as  preacher,  and  that  his  thrift  on  the  "Overplus  Land" 
given  to  him  as  a  settlement,  was  not  a  small  occasion  of  delay 
and  dislike  in  paying  his  salary.  A  good  farm  is  a  dangerous 
thing  for  a  minister  to  own  among  fanners.  His  thrift  is  all 
open  to  view  and  begets  envy.  Mr.  Merrick  had  a  family  of 
promising  boys  now  entering  upon  manhood,  some  already 
arrived  at  it,  and  two  negroes  to  aid  in  the  field  and  one  in  the 
house,  giving  him  an  appearance  of  abundance  and  increasing 
riches.  The  town  were  not  disposed  to  aid  any  more  than  they 
could  help  in  "multiplying  his  prosperity." 

As  early  as  January  7,  1771,  a  movement  is  made  to  give  up 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  103 

the  attempt  to  settle  the  salary  on  the  ]jriccs  of  ' '  Sundry  Species 
of  Commoditys,"  and  the  sum  of  "Fifty  one  Pounds  Ten 
ShilHngs,  lawful  Money  of  this  Province"  is  voted  by  the  town 
and  accepted  by  Mr.  Merrick  instead,  and  papers  were  ex- 
changed between  the  parties,  January  6,  1772.  It  is  also  agreed 
that  the  "Ministry  Land"  shall  be  sold,  on  condition  that  £  6 
be  added  annually  to  Mr.  Merrick's  salary,  and  the  sale  is  made 
and  bonds  are  given  amounting  to  £  348,  13  s.  5  d.  or  $1162.20, 
the  interest  on  which  is  to  be  paid  annually  for  the  support  of 
preaching. 

Mr.  Merrick's  health  failed  in  1772,  and  difficulties,  in  addi- 
tion to  all  the  others,  of  a  serious  nature  arose  about  supplying 
the  pulpit  and  paying  his  salary  while  he  was  sick.  Matters 
came  to  a  crisis  July  14,  1775,  and  the  town  not  only  refused  to 
raise  Mr.  Merrick's  salary,  but,  after  hearing  read  a  very  frank 
statement  made  by  him  of  his  sickness  and  ofifering  to  relinquish 
five  pounds  out  of  his  salary  for  the  current  year  in  case  the 
town  should  "Employ  Some  Learned  Licenced  Preacher  for 
three  months  next  ensuing"  and  in  the  "same  proportion"  for 
"every  three  months  thereafter  in  case"  he  "should  not  be  able 
to  supply  the  pulpit  before  the  Expiration  of  Said  Term,"  and 
provided  also  that  he  "should  be  paid  the  remaining  part"  of 
his  "salary  according  to"  their  "agreement,"  yet  after  a  "  Long 
Debate  a  motion  was  made  and  Seconded  to  Dismiss  Mr. 
Mirick;"  then  "voted  to  Dismiss  Mr.  Mirick  from  the  Gospel 
Ministry  upon  his  being  willing;"  then  "voted  to  adjourn  to 
the  4th  day  of  September  next."  At  that  meeting  "Mr. 
Mirick's  answer  was  read"  again  "and  not  excepted  by  the 
town."  The  committee  of  conference  is  enlarged  and  are 
directed  to  ' '  Wait  on  Mr.  Mirick  again  and  see  if  their  Grievance 
could  not  be  removed."  They  "weighted  on  Mr.  Mirick  with 
two  votes  passed"  and  received  the  following  answer: — 

"To  the  Inhabitants  of  Wilbraham  in  Town  Meeting  as- 
sembled, Friends  and  Neighbours:  Considering  my  bodily 
Infirmity  and  Difficulty  of  Supplying  the  Pulpit  Steadily  for 
the  present,   I  hereby  engage  (provided  you  accept  of  it)  to 


104  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

relinquish  out  of  my  annual  salary  Eight  Shillings  per  Day  for 
as  man}^  Sabbaths  as  you  shall  be  obliged  to  hier  a  preacher  on 
account  of  my  failing  through  inability.  S'*  Engagement  to 
continue  one  year  from  date  hereof  &  no  longer — if  my  Life 
should  be  continued  so  Long. 

Yours,  N.  Merrick 
Wilbraham  September  4,  1775." 

This  answer  was  read  in  "a  very  full  Town  meeting  &  not 
Excepted."  They  vote  "to  chuse  another  committee  to  draw 
up  a  List  of  Grievances  and  Lay  them  before  Mr.  Mirick  &  agree 
with  him  to  Call  in  Sister  Churches;  then  after  a  Long  Debate," 
says  the  town  clerk  "there  was  no  Committee  chose."  The  old 
committee  was  directed  ' '  to  wait  on  the  Rev'^  Mr.  Mirick  to 
Know  if  he  will  ask  for  and  Receive  an  Honorable  Dismission 
from  the  work  of  the  Ministry  in  this  town  and  unite  with  the 
town  in  Calling  a  Council  for  that  purpose — further  voted  as 
the  opinion  of  this  town  that  a  Minister  has  no  Right  to  any 
Salery  or  maintenance  as  a  Minister  any  Longer  than  he  per- 
forms the  work  of  a  Minister."  The  clerk  adds,  "N.  B.  the 
above  votes  past  by  a  very  grate  majority  then  the  meeting 
disolved." 

For  the  next  two  years  the  same  subject  came  up  at  several 
town  meetings,  at  one  of  which,  March  28.  1776  "Voted  and 
Dismist  the  Rev'^  Mr.  Mirick  from  the  work  of  the  Ministry  in 
this  town."  At  a  meeting  held  about  two  months  later,  May 
20,  1776,  the  vote  to  dismiss  Mr.  Merrick  was  Reconsidered 
made  nul  and  void." 

"There  is  yet  hope  of  a  safe  and  honorable  deliverance.  They 
wait  therefore,  with  worth}^  solicitude,  the  action  of  the  meet- 
ing, July  2"^.  A  new  committee  of  five  persons  is  chosen  to 
"wait  on  the  Rev'*  Mr.  Merrick  and  ask  what  his  demands  are 
on  the  town;'  and  it  appears  that  his  reply  was,  'What  the 
town  owes  me'  for  they  put  themselves  right  in  the  case  by 
further  voting  all  Mr.  Merrick's  '  Sallary  to  the  28  Day  of  Last 
June  that  has  not  been  granted  heretofore.' 

"The  wisdom  of  the  fathers  is  returning.  They  choose  a  com- 
mittee to  hire  preaching,  for  Mr.  Merrick  is  too  infirm  to  per- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  105 

form  'the  work  of  the  Ministry,'  and  another  committee  'to 
wait  on  our  Rev^  pasture  to  make  a  final  settlement  with  him 
and  report  at  this  or  some  future  meeting.'  They  adjourned  to 
September  2"^;  met  and  adjourned  to  October,  'and  but  four 
persons  met  no  meeting  could  be  opened  so  the  meeting  Conci- 
quently  Disolved  of  it  self.'  Mr.  Merrick's  health  was  still 
declining  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  supply  the  pulpit  for 
six  months,  at  a  special  meeting  held  in  September.  In  Novem- 
ber there  is  an  article  in  the  warrant  to  see  if  the  'town  will 
unite  with  the  church  and  chuse  a  Council  to  dismis  our  Rev^ 
pasture  agreeable  to  the  Late  result  of  the  Rev^  Council  & 
chuse  a  Com""^  for  that  purpos.'  The  meeting  met  and 
adjourned  to  December  9,  when  no  vote  was  passed  respecting 
calling  a  council,  but  Capt.  John  Shaw,  Mr.  Moses  Stebbins,  & 
L'^  Noah  Stebbins  were  chosen  a  '  Com"*"*^  to  wait  on  Mr.  Mirick 
with  a  coppy  of  the  Last  Grant  made  him  of  his  Sallary  and  see 
if  he  will  accept  and  be  content  therewith  and  give  a  Discharge 
from  any  further  Clame  on  the  Town  by  way  of  Sallary  and 
make  a  Reporte  at  some  futer  meeting.' 

"This  is  the  last  recorded  action  in  this  protracted  and  painful 
transaction.  The  'Worthy'  Mr.  Merrick  was  rapidly  sinking 
to  his  grave;  going  to  his  reward.  He  died  December  22,  1776, 
aged  sixty-six  years,  after  a  ministry  of  thirty-five  years  and  six 
months." 

Mrs.  Abigail  Merrick,  his  wife,  survived  him  thirty-one 
years,  and  died  September  12,  1807,  in  the  ninety-eighth  year 
of  her  age.  The  final  settlement  with  the  heirs  of  Mr. 
Merrick  was  not  made  till  1784,  eight  years  after  his  death. 
The  town  then  "Granted  to  the  heirs  of  the  Rev^  Noah  Mirick 
what  was  Due  to  him  for  his  Salary  &  what  was  Due  by  the  sale 
of  the  ministry  land  included  the  sum  [of]  £  48,  15  s.  1  d.  2  f." 

"He  was  born  August  6,  1711,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1731,  the  son  of  James,  who  was  the  .son  of  Thomas  Merrick, 
who  came  from  Wales  and  settled  in  Springfield  1636.  He  was 
a  good  scholar  and  preacher  for  his  time,  very  methodical  in  his 
habits,  exact  in  all  his  ways  and  punctual  in  the  performance  of 
every  duty.  Saturday  was  his  preparation  day  for  the  solemn 
duties  of  the  Sabbath.  At  an  early  hour  he  retired  to  his  study, 
and  no  one  was  permitted  to  interrupt  him.  His  meals  were 
carried  to  his  room,  and  he  did  not  appear  in  his  family  till 
Sunday  morning.      He  was  an  Arminian  in  his  opinions,   if 


106 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


universal  tradition  can  be  relied  upon,  and  it  is  not  improbable 
that  this  may  have  had  some  influence  in  breeding  disaffection 
at  last  in  the  town  and  church.  The  church  book  shows  the 
usual  amount  of  success  in  the  ministry.  One  hundred  and 
seventy-two  joined  the  church,  one  hundred  and  three  owned 
the  covenant,  and  six  hundred  and  four  were  baptized,  and 
thirteen  were  dismissed  to  other  churches.  Cases  of  Discipline 
never  resulted  in  expulsion,  or  if  so,  no  record  is  made  of  the 
fact.  Mr.  Merrick's  labors  were  not  disturbed  by  the  con- 
troversies of  intrusive  sectaries  till  near  their  close,  when  the 
Baptists  appeared  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  organized 
a  society  in  1768,  and  Rev.  Seth  Clark  was  settled  in  1770.  No 
serious  collision  appears  to  have  arisen  between  the  churches, 
however,  and  the  harmony  of  the  town  seems  not  to  have  been 
disturbed.  One  lesson,  at  least,  we  may  learn  from  this  long 
struggle:  there  was  trouble  among  the  fathers  not  less  than 
among  us  in  their  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  no  one  who  reads 
their  records  attentively  can  sigh  for  the  old  ways  and  the  times 
of  the  fathers." 

The  following  are  a  few  entries  copied  from  the  account  book 
of  Rev.  Noah  Merrick.  They  may  throw  some  light  on  con- 
ditions of  that  time.  The  book  is  now  in  possession  of  his 
great-great-grandson,  Charles  vS.  Merrick,  of  our  town. 


£ 

S 
3 

d 

1744.  Oct.  9.  To  Jas.  Ball  his  right  to  ye  overplus  land 

"           "     "     "   David  Cooley  "       "     "         "           " 

5 

"           "     13  y«=  Committee  for  laying  out  my  lot 

7 

6 

"           "     22  Rachel,  Negro,  for  work 

4 

6 

1746       "     7  To  Shelvan,  Negro,  some  toabcco' 

1 

3 

1747  Jan.  To  Mr.  Brecks  Negro  4  lbs  tobacco 

4 

Feb.  To  Mr.  Breck  toward  a  Negro 

4 

"       Mar.23  To  "       "      in  part  for  a  Negro. 

100 

"       June  To  my  Father's  Negro  'S}/2  \h  tobacco  at  y^ 

5 

3 

"       Oct.  To  S.  Palmer,  pr  shoes  for  my  wife  and  child  and 

mending  my  Negros. 

2 

8 

0 

Dec.  25  To  Mr.  Breck  in  part  for  a  Negro 

60 

"           "     "   To  E.  Pynchon  recording  a  marriage 

2 

1748  Mar.  7  To  my  Negro  2  lb  flax  a  31  pr 

6 

Apr.  15  To  Rev.  Mr.  Breck  in  part  for  a  Negro 

56 

June         ' ' 

6 

Aug.  29  To  My  Negro 

14 

"       Sept.  9  To  Mr.  E.  Pynchon  recording  a  marriage 

2 

The  History  of  Wilbraham 

{Continued) 


107 


£ 

S 

d 

1749  Jan.  20  To  Sheba  Burt  for  cutting  out  a  great  coat 

for  my  Negro 

2 

1749  Feb.  To  E.  Pynchon  recording  a  marriage 

2 

"       Apr.  To  Capt.  Stebbins  Recording  Returns  of  ye 

Committee 

4 

8 

1749  Apr.  13  Mr.  Breck  for  6  sheep 

0 

9 

6 

1750  Aug.  30  To  my  Negro 

4 

1751  July  To  Capt.  Pynchon  recording  a  deed 

2 

5 

0 

"       Sept.  To  Aaron  Stebbins  Jun""  his  head  of  hair  at 

2c  5y 

"       Nov.  12  To  Edward  Pynchon  recording  a  marriage  2-6 

"  birth  h  3 

— 

3 

9 

1752  To  Master  Barker  schooHng 

2 

— 

— 

From  the  death  of  Mr.  Merrick  in  1776,  there  was  no  settled 
minister  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  till  1787,  a  period  of 
eleven  years.  But  the  people  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  had 
so  rapidly  increased  that,  as  early  as  1765,  they  made  applica- 
tion to  the  town  for  money  to  support  preaching  among  them  in 
the  winter,  which  was  promptly  refused.  At  the  December 
meeting,  1767,  the  town  refused  the  "Southpart"  the  privilege 
of  having  "Two  Months  Preaching  in  the  Winter  Season  upon 
there  own  cost."  Such  a  vote  would  not  conciliate  the  Stebbinses 
and  Lang  dons  and  Morrises  and  Chaff  ees.  They  rally  in  1772, 
and  ask  to  be  set  off  as  a  town,  but  are  voted  down  summarily. 
In  1778,  after  a  struggle  at  several  adjourned  meetings,  and  the 
report  of  a  committee,  they  vote  to  divide  the  town  into  "two 
parishes;"  but  it  was  afterwards  reconsidered.  In  1780,  they 
again  urge  their  claim  to  be  a  parish  upon  both  town  and 
General  Court,  and  press  it  with  vigor  till  at  last  they  gain 
their  object,  and  are  set  off  as  a  parish,  June  11,  1782.  The 
line  between  the  parishes  from  Springfield  to  Monson  was 
on  the  south  side  of  David  Bliss's  farm,  those  adjoining 
the  line  being  permitted  to  choose  whichever  parish  they 
pleased. 

Near  the  close  of  this  period,  January  10,  1780,  Deacon 
Nathaniel  Warriner,  one  of  the  first  four  settlers  of  the  town 


108  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

died,  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age.  He  was  called  to 
the  most  important  offices  of  trust  in  both  precinct  and  town. 
Besides  the  important  office  which  he  held  in  the  church  from 
the  very  beginning,  and  to  which  he  gave  a  "full  sacramental 
furniture,"  he  was  moderator  of  many  of  the  precinct  meetings, 
sharing  the  honor  with  Thomas  Merrick,  and  almost  exclusively 
moderator  of  town  meetings  for  seven  years  to  1770,  when  John 
Bliss  of  the  south  part  appears  on  the  stage,  and  succeeds  for 
many  years  to  the  Deacon's  honors.  Having  no  children  on 
whose  shoulders  the  mantle  of  his  virtues  and  the  results  of  his 
industry  and  economy  could  descend,  he  gave  at  his  decease 
£  400  "Lawfull  money"  or  about  $1300  to  the  town,  "to  be  the 
one-half  given  to  the  support  of  a  Gospel  Ministry,  the  other 
half  to  be  to  the  use  and  Support  of  Schools  in  this  town.  Pro- 
vided that  all  other  Churches  which  are  or  may  be  in  this  town 
of  a  different  Constitution  from  the  Standing  order  of  Churches 
in  this  Land  Shall  Forever  be  Excluded  from  Receiving  an}- 
benefit  from  the  same."  He  is  the  first  benefactor  of  the 
town,  who  has  given  a  sum  for  public  purposes  equalling  this 
donation. 

I  have  procured  from  the  Register  of  Probate  of  Hampshire 
County  a  copy  of  the  Will  of  Nathaniel  Warriner.  And  as  very 
few  of  the  people  of  our  town  know  anything  definite  in  regard 
to  its  provisions,  it  seems  advisable  to  insert  it  here. 

WILL  OF   DEACON   NATHANIEL  WARRINER 

In  the  Name  of  God  Amen 

I  Nathaniel  Warriner  of  Wilbraham  in  the  County  of  Hamp- 
shire &  State  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  North  America 
Dea"  Being  in  a  very  low  State  of  Bodily  Health,  but  of  Sound 
Mind  &  Memory  Yet  Calling  to  Mind  the  Mortality  of  my 
Body  do  make  &  ordain  this  my  last  Will  &  Testament  as  fol- 
lows. Viz  First  I  recomend  my  Soul  into  the  hands  of  God  who 
gave  it;  and  my  Body  I  remitt  unto  the  Earth  by  desent  Buril 
at  the  Discretion  of  my  Executor  hereafter  Named,  As  to  my 
Worldly  Estate  I  give  Bequeath  &  Dispose  of  the  Same  in  the 
following  manner. 

Y\z   To  Moses  Warriner  my  Kindsman  I  Give  and  Bequeath 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  109 

that  Lot  of  Land  lying  in  the  Mountain  which  I  Bought  of  his 
Brother  Nathaniel  Warriner  &  beginning  &  bounded  on  the  east 
end  of  Philip  Lyons  Lot  of  Land  and  extending  east  within  forty 
rods  of  the  Middle  road  So  Called :  also  my  Scheme  Lot  of  Land 
at  or  near  Stebbins's  Dam  vSo  Called  which  was  Originally  laid 
out  to  Benjamin  Warriner  Deceas^  also  one  third  of  all  my 
waring  Apperrel  the  Same  to  be  equally  Divided  betwixt  him 
and  the  other  partners  as  they  Shall  agree. 

To  Noah  Warriner  my  Kindsman  &  Brother  to  the  above 
Named  Moses  I  Give  &  Bequath  my  Home  Lot  of  Land  be- 
gining  at  at  Pole  bridge  Brook  So  Called  &  extendeth  east  to 
Gideon  Burts  Land :  also  all  my  Building  of  every  kind  Standing 
on  the  Same :  Also  all  my  Ash  Swamp  Lot  of  Land  begining  at 
the  Inward  Common  line  &  extending  east  to  within  forty  rods 
of  the  Middle  road  So  Called:  also  my  Desk,  Lock  &  Key:  also 
all  my  Team  Utensils  as  Cart,  Ploughs,  Sleads,  Harrows,  Axes, 
Hoes  &c  &c — one  Plow  Chain  only  excepted — I  Also  Appoint  the 
Said  Noah  to  be  executor  to  this  my  last  Will  &  Testament — 
also  I  give  him  my  House  Clock  &  best  Bed  &  its  furniture. 

To  Nathaniel  Warriner  my  Kindsman,  Brother  to  the  above 
Named  Moses  &  Noah  I  Give  &  Bequath  all  that  part  of  my 
Ash  Swamp  Lot  of  Land  Bounding  on  the  third  road  So  Called 
&  extending  east  to  Munson  line :  Also  one  Cow  &  Eight  Sheap 
which  he  hath  now  in  possion  by  Lease  Viz  Said  Sheep  on  Con- 
dition He  pay  to  Hannah  Alvord  Six  pounds  of  good  Mer- 
chantable Sheeps  wool  Yearly  so  long  as  She  remains  unmarried : 
Also  I  give  unto  him  the  Said  Nathaniel  one  Plough  Chain  & 
one  Third  Share  of  my  wearing  Apparrel — 

To  Abner  Warriner  My  Kinds  Man  &  Brother  to  the  above 
I  Give  &  Bequeath  the  whole  width  of  my  Ash  Swamp  Lot  of 
Land  bounding  on  the  Middle  road  So  Called  &  extending 
thence  West  forty  rods;  also  one  third  Share  of  my  wearing 
Apparrel 

To  my  Sister  Elisabeth  I  Give  &  bequeath  a  Sufficient  Main- 
tinance  out  of  my  Estate  during  Life  in  case  She  hath  not 
enough  of  her  own  to  Cary  her  through 

To  Zebulon  Chapin  my  Kindsman  I  Give  &  Bequeath  all  the 
east  end  of  my  Home  Lot  beginning  at  the  Middle  road  So 
Called  and  extending  thence  east  to  Monson  Line  whereon  he 
now  liveth 

To  Jacob  Chapin  my  Kindsman  I  Give  &  Bequeath  all  my 
Scheme  Lot  of  Land  lying  at  or  Near  Cosey  Swamp  So  Called. 

To  Samuel  Warner  2d  of  this  Town  I  Give  &  Bequeath  all  my 
Scheme  Lot  of  Land  in  the  Inward  Commons  &  lying  South- 


110  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

wardly  of  Mill  river  near  Enos  Chapins  Saw  Mill,  and  was 
deed"*  to  me  by  Moses  Church:  also  any  and  all  other  Lands 
which  are  my  Just  property  lying  in  this  Town  or  elsewhere  & 
not  otherways  Mentioned  or  Disposed  of  by  this  Will 

To  Gideon  Chapin  of  Chiccupee  my  Kindsman  I  Give  & 
Bequeath  about  Thirty  Acres  of  Land  lying  in  Ludlow  near 
Hadly  line 

To  the  Wives  of  Aaron  Bliss,  Deacon  Edward  Chapin, 
Richard  Woolworth  each  of  them  being  near  of  Kindred  to  my 
Deceased  Wife  I  Give  &  Bequeath  that  Chest  with  Drawers  & 
the  Pewter  of  every  kind,  likewise  the  Silver  Thimble,  Gold  and 
Silver  Sleave  Buttons  all  which  was  my  Wifes  property  at 
Marriage  to  be  equally  Divided  betwix  them  as  they  Shall  agree 

To  Hannah  Alvord  my  Present  Housekeeper  I  give  &  Be- 
queath the  Use  &  Improvement  of  the  North  room  of  my 
Dwelling  House;  also  a  Priviledge  She  Shall  need  in  my  Sellar 
under  my  House  &  in  my  Kitchin;  back  room  &  Meal  Chamber 
&  Closet,  also  in  my  Garden  Plot  of  Land;  also  10  pounds  of 
Flax  Yearly  also  when  my  Orchard  is  fruitful  She  Shall  have  a 
Competency  of  Appels  for  her  own  Use,  &  Two  Barrels  of  Sider 
Three  Bushels  of  Wheat,  Seven  Bushels  of  Rye,  Two  Bushels 
of  Indian  Com  &  one  Bushel  of  Malt  each  of  them  Flowered  & 
Delivered  to  her  hand  with  Kenell  &  Brawn — Zebulon  Chapin 
to  find  one  Bushel  of  the  Wheat  &  Two  Bushels  of  the  Rye — 
Said  Nathaniel  to  find  one  Bushel  of  the  Wheat  &  Two  of  the 
Rye — Said  Abner  to  find  one  Bushel  of  the  Wheat  &  one  of  the 
Rye.  Said  Moses  to  find  Two  Bushels  of  the  Rye — Said  Noah 
Warriner  to  provide,  &  find  to  the  Said  Hannah  Sufficient  Fire 
wood  ready  Cut  fit  for  the  Fire  &  at  the  Door  of  my  Dwelling 
House,  &  to  pasture  by  grass  &  Winter  by  Hay  one  Cow  also 
find  unto  her  Eight  Score  pounds  of  good  Pork  ready  Salted  or 
Pickled  also  as  often  as  he  can  conveniantly  to  Transport  the 
Said  Hannah  to  the  House  of  Publick  Worship  on  Sabbath 
Days,  and  all  this  During  the  whole  Term  that  the  Said  Hannah 
Shall  remain  unmarried  &  no  longer. 

To  the  Said  Moses,  Noah,  Nathaniel  &  Abner  I  give  &  Be- 
queath all  my  Stock  or  Heards  of  live  Cattle  or  Creatures  to  be 
equally  Divided  betwix  them  as  they  Shall  agree 

To  The  Town  of  Wilbraham  I  Give  &  Bequeath  the  Sum  of 
four  Hundred  Pounds  Lawful  Money  agreeable  or  equall  to 
Silver  at  Six  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  p""  ounce  one  half  of  which 
for  the  Use  &  Support  of  a  Gospell  Ministry,  the  other  half  to  be 
to  the  Use  &  Suport  of  Schools  in  this  Town  I  order  my  Executor 
herein  Named  or  his  Successor  to  Loan  out  the  Same  in  good 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  111 

hands  with  Suretys  upon  Interest  for  the  Same  purposes  and  the 
Interest  of  the  Same  Shall  be  Yearly  paid  into  the  Treasury  of 
the  Town  for  the  Same  purpose  &  be  Subject  to  recovery 
Yearly  by  the  Town  Treasurer  for  that  or  those  Uses  or  other- 
ways  recoverable  as  the  Town  thinks  fit  &  the  Principle  is 
always  to  be  kept  whole  &  entire  &  not  Diminished — Provided 
Nevertheless — That  if  this  Town  is  ever  lawfully  Divided  into 
two  Towns  Viz  a  North  &  a  South ;  in  that  Case  the  North  part 
Shall  be  only  Intitled  to  the  Benefit  of  any  part  of  the  Said  Four 
Hundred  Pounds:  also  it  is  hereby  Provided  that  all  other 
Churches  which  are  or  may  be  in  this  Town  of  a  Different  Con- 
stitution from  the  Standing  order  of  Churches  in  this  Land 
Shall  forever  be  excluded  from  receiving  any  Benefit  from  the 
Same. 

Furthermore  All  Moneys  Justly  Due  to  my  Estate  by  Book, 
Bond  or  Note  I  Give  &  Bequeath  to  all  &  each  one  of  my 
Kindred  &  Lawful  Heirs  the  Same  to  be  paid  by  my  Executor  or 
Successor  to  each  of  them  in  Equal  Shares:  and  if  any  of  my 
Debtors  Shall  appear  Indigent  or  needy  &  unable  to  pay  their 
respective  Dues  to  my  Estate  in  that  Case  I  order  the  Debtors 
to  be  forgiven  and  the  Debt  forever  to  be  relinquished  &  not 
recovered 

In  Witness  whereof  I  the  Said  Nathaniel  Warriner  have  here- 
unto Set  mv  hand  and  Seal  this  29th  Dav  of  December  Annoque 
Domini  1779 

N.  B.  Four  razings  &  Eight  Interlinings  before  Sealing — 
Sin^,  Seald  PubHshed  & 

pronounced  by  the  Said  Nath"  Warriner     Seal 

Nathaniel  Warriner  as  his 
last  Will  and  Testament  in 
Presence  of  us 

Jesse  Warner 
Abel  King 
Asaph  King 

Hampshire  County  S.  S.  Northampton,  Mass.,  July  9,  1913. 
Registry  of  Probate. 

A  true  Copy,  Attest  Hubbard  M.  Abbott,  Register. 

I  have  not  found  any  report  of  the  executor  of  the  Deacon 
Warriner  will,  which  shows  when,  or  to  whom,  the  legacy  of  400 
pounds  was  paid.  But  it  must  have  been  paid  previous  to 
September  10th,  1782.  For  on  that  date,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
North  Parish,  it  was 


112  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"Voted  that  Cap*^  James  Shaw  Doct.  John  Stems  Doct. 
Samuel  F.  Mirick  be  a  Com"''^  to  agrea  with  the  South  Parish 
respecting  Deacon  Nathaniel  Warriner  Donation  as  Soon  as 
may  be  and  report  to  the  Com'^*^  Chosen  to  prefer  a  petition  to 
the  General  Court  for  a  redress  of  Grevience." 

Also  "Voted  that  Doc'  Sam"  F.  Mirick  Cap'  Abel  King 
Cap'  James  Shaw  be  a  Com'^''  to  apply  to  the  General  Court 
for  redress  of  Grevience  Concerning  the  Division  of  the  town 
as  soon  as  may  be  in  Case  the  vSouth  Parish  Dont  relinquish 
Dec"  Warriner  Donation." 

I  have  not  found  any  report  from  either  of  these  committees. 
The  South  Parish  may  have  claimed,  that,  as  the  town  was  not 
actually  divided,  they  were  entitled  to  the  use  of  one  half  of  the 
legacy  for  the  "Support  of  a  Gospel  Ministry."  When  the 
town  was  divided  in  1878,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
town  of  Wilbraham  to  adjust  this  matter  between  the  two 
parishes.     But  nothing  was  accomplished. 

I  have  overrun  the  time  limit,  or  arrangement  a  little, 
but  it  seemed  best  to  keep  this  record  of  the  church  business 
together. 

VALUATION  OF  WILBRAHAM  1771 

In  the  Stebbins  History,  Page  230,  is  a  list  of  the  names  of 
one  hundred  men,  taxpayers  in  the  town,  with  a  list  of  their 
property,  divided  into  twenty  different  items. 

There  were  92  dwelling  houses  and  three  tan  houses.  I  have 
omitted  a  few  of  the  items,  and  have  condensed  several  of  the 
others;  To  illustrate,  the  four  items,  "Acres  of  pasture," 
"Acres  of  tillage,"  "Acres  of  mowing,"  "Acres  fresh  meadow," 
are  all  included  in  one.  The  number  of  tons  of  fresh  meadow 
hay  cut  was  more  than  four  times  as  much  as  that  cut  from  the 
upland  mowings,  and  both  are  entered  here  together.  By  the 
state  census,  the  population  of  Wilbraham  in  1765,  was  491, 
and  in  1776,  1057.  Assuming  that  the  increase  was  fairly  regu- 
lar, the  population  of  the  town,  in  1771,  was  about  800.  It 
seems  worth  while  to  preserve  this  ancient  account  of  the 
products  and  property  of  the  town. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


113 


Taxpayers  and  List  of  Properties 


NAMES 


Thomas  Mirick 
John  Hitchcock 
Noah  Stebbins 
Nathaniel  Bliss 
Philip  Lyon 
Gideon  Burt 
Moses  Warriner 
Noah  Warriner 
James  Warriner 
Moses  Burt 
Nath'l  Warriner 
Aaron  Alvord 
Daniel  Warner 
Phineas  Newton 
Ezra  Barker 
Enoch  Chapin 
Isaac  Brewer 
William  Brewer 
Eleazer  Smith 
David  Warriner 
John  vSterns 
Samuel  Warner 
Daniel  Murphy- 
Samuel  Bartlett 
Abel  Bliss 
Nath'l  Hitchcock 
Benj.  Warriner 
Nat'.  Hitchcock,  Jr. 
Isaac  Osborn 
David  Jones 
Elisha  Ferry 
Benoni  Atchinson 
Samuel  Warner,  Jr. 
Jesse  Warner 
Moses  Alvard 
Samuel  Day 
Joseph  Abbot 
Nath'l  Bliss,  Jr. 
James  Eddy 
Caleb  Stebbins 
Joseph  Firmin 
John  Crane 
Daniel  Cadwell,  Jr. 
Zebulon  Chapin 
Daniel  Cadwell 
Lemuel  Dunham 
Paul  Hitchcock 
Daniel  Carpenter 
James  Twing 
Thomas  Dunham 


Money 

at 
Interest 

Horses 
and 

Mares 

Cows 

and 

Cattle 

Goats 

and 

Sheep 

Acres  of  Bush. of 
pasture    grain 
tillage  [  raised 
mowing   yearly 

Barrels 

of 
cider 
yearly 

£220 

2 

12 

23 

31 

50 

2 

15 

12 

49 

153 

7 

1 

18 

4 

25 

31 

15 

3 

10 

16 

19 

48 

25 

2 

6 

14 

16 

80 

9 

13 

21 

45 

10 

1 

8 

5 

17 

32 

4 

1 

3 

4 

13 

25 

2 

16 

25 

65 

150 

5 

3 

23 

22 

42 

100 

20 

754 

2 

18 

16 

53 

154 

10 

2 

10 

12 

30 

56 

10 

3 

10 

8 

40 

100 

12 

2 

18 

10 

40 

135 

20 

4 

3 

15 

50 

7 

50 

1 

5 

9 

10 

8 

2 

4 

7 

24 

132 

6 

1 

1 

8 

19 

40 

10 

1 

6 

6 

58 

50 

8 

2 

10 

12 

59 

280 

4 

2 

6 

6 

5 

1 

7 

6 

29 

66 

1 

4 

6 

26 

120 

6 

1 

5 

7 

15 

28 

3 

1 

10 

8 

24 

64 

1 

8 

8 

38 

108 

4 

3 

35 

110 

4 

1 

5 

3 

4 

14 

22 

96 

2 

6 

8 

10 

42 

3 

6 

19 

72 

1 

4 

10 

20 

56 

3 

7 

4 

12 

1 

10 

2 

30 

102 

1 

6 

4 

42 

166 

1 

6 

3 

31 

176 

1 

5 

4 

17 

32 

4 

9 

8 

35 

1 

17 

14 

51 

150 

2 

12 

20 

39 

100 

2 

1 

1 

5 

17 

100 

8 

1 

13 

8 

1 

4 

10 

14 

70 

1 

15 

15 

34 

108 

5 

1 

4 

5 

17 

40 

1 

3 

1 

1 

6 

10 

24 

90 

5 

41 

6 

Tons 

of 

hay 

yearly 

9 

12 

9 


10 

5 

20 

15 

12 

10 

14 

12 

1 

2 

2 

11 

5 

13 

2 

14 

8 

3 

4 

15 

9 

7 
2 
5 
3 
2 
7 

17 
6 

10 
3 

14 

14 


1 

12 

3 


12 


114 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Taxpayers  and  List  of  Properties — Continued 


Money 

Horses 

Cows 

Goats 

Acres  of  Bush,  of  Barrel. 

i    Tons 

NAMES 

at 
Interes 

and 
b  Mares 

and 

Cattle 

and 
Sheep 

pasture    grain 
tillage  !  raised 
mowing  yearly 

1    cider 
yearly 

of 

hay 

yearly 

John  Plumley 

1 

4 

t 

Jonathan  Ely 

79 

2 

19 

18 

37 

90 

15 

15 

Joseph  Burnham       , 

1 

10 

24 

40 

9 

Moses  Colton 

2 

24 

26 

53 

100 

18 

21 

Stephen  Bliss 

1 

5 

22 

30 

7 

5 

Joel  Bliss 

8 

9 

19 

30 

7 

Moses  vStebbins 

2 

24 

10 

53 

130 

8 

16 

John  Bliss 

2 

22 

15 

39 

100 

7 

16 

Enos  Stebbins 

1 

10 

6 

21  !      50 

10 

William  Stacy 

2 

10 

14 

24 

70 

3 

8 

Gary  Burdick 

1 

6 

13 

4 

Samuel  Sexton 

1 

12 

10 

36 

100 

6 

11 

John  Goodwell 

4 

13 

50 

4 

Joel  Chaffee 

1 

5 

8 

12 

60 

4 

John  Firmin 

40 

1 

13 

7 

31 

50 

8 

8 

William  Wood 

1 

7 

8 

20 

40 

6 

Nathan  Answorth 

1 

17 

57 

50 

4 

12 

James  Prentice 

2 

5 

30 

2 

Thomas  Lewis 

1 

5 

12 

13 

24 

5 

7 

Joseph  Jones 

1 

7 

10 

30 

80 

13 

Joseph  Sharon 

1 

3 

6 

10 

30 

3 

Abel  King 

4 

10 

20 

20 

100 

7 

Jabez  Hendrick 

4 

9 

13 

15 

30 

10 

Isaac  Morris 

1 

7 

5 

12 

30 

7 

Joseph  Chaffee 

1 

7 

8 

16 

50 

8 

Abner  Badger 

1 

13 

4 

23 

60 

10 

David  Perry 

1 

7 

5 

30 

2 

Joseph  Butler 

1 

7 

4 

6 

40 

6 

Zadock  Stebbins 

8 

6 

15 

40 

7 

Simeon  Chaffee 

8 

4 

20 

50 

9 

John  Chaffee 

2 

5 

3 

25 

Phineas  Stebbins 

1 

4 

12 

18 

30 

12 

William  King 

4 

28 

18 

64 

150 

28 

Thomas  King 

1 

7 

10 

17 

50 

8 

Ezekiel  Russell 

1 

9 

8 

23 

100 

10 

William  Tailler 

1 

2 

33 

122 

10 

Eldad  Stebbins 

1 

10 

16 

34 

110 

4 

14 

David  Burt 

1 

6 

5 

16 

45 

7 

Abner  Chapin 

1 

11 

16 

28 

110 

6 

10 

Paul  Langdon 

1 

8 

9 

30 

100 

40 

13 

John  Langdon 

1 

7 

10 

44 

80 

6 

7 

John  Williams 

2 

21 

9 

93 

40 

50 

22 

Jonathan  Brown 

17 

25 

10 

Gideon  Kibby 

1 

11 

12 

24 

140 

6 

Aaron  Stebbins  2nd 

3 

12 

12 

31 

130 

2 

13 

Aaron  Stebbins 

1 

10 

12 

34 

140 

7 

12 

Asa  Chaffee 

1 

1 

6 

7 

20 

3 

Lewis  Langdon 

1 

1 

Benj.  Hutchinson 

7 

8 

7 

40 

1 

Jonathan  Mirick 

3 

25 

7 

74 

280 

20 

25 

Names          100 

1188 

121 

850 

815 

2490 

7004 

420 

825 

The  History  of  Wilbraham  115 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when  the  Outward  Commons 
were  divided,  or  apportioned  among  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  original  proprietors,  in  1674-75,  a  lot  in  each  division 
was  set  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  and  one  for  the  schools. 

Each  ministry  lot  was  37  rods  and  4  feet  wide,  north  and 
south,  and  four  miles  long,  east  and  west.  But  as  each  rod  in 
the  width  of  the  lots  was  only  sixteen  feet  long,  we  must  deduct 
one  rod  one  foot  and  six  inches,  which  would  leave  each  ministry 
lot  36  rods  1  foot  and  6  inches  wide,  and  as  each  rod  wide,  four 
miles  long,  would  contain  eight  acres,  there  would  be  about  two 
hundred  and  eighty-nine  acres  in  each  lot,  and  each  school  lot 
would  contain  about  one  hundred  and  forty-four  acres. 

In  April,  1769,  it  was  voted  "that  the  Com'*''^  which  was 
chosen  to  Sell  or  Lease  the  School  Lands  in  this  town  shall  Sell 
or  Lease  the  same  in  such  manner  as  is  most  for  the  Interest  and 
Benefit  of  this  Town  and  according  to  their  best  skill  and  Judge- 
ment and  that  they  give  to  the  Purchasers  good  Title  of  or  the 
same  by  Lease  or  deed  on  behalf  of  this  Town  on  conditions  fol- 
lowing (Viz)  that  the  purchaser  or  purchasers  shall  at  Bargaining 
for  said  Lands  pay  the  Cost  for  the  same,  or  find  two  good 
Sureties  with  themselves  who  shall  be  firmly  Bound  for  Sure 
payment,  further  Voted  *  *  *  that  said  Committee  make  report 
of  their  doings  to  Some  future  Meeting." 

There  is  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  a  meeting,  January  1, 
1770,  "to  receive  the  Report  of  the  Com''^''  which  was  chosen  to 
lease  or  sell  the  School  Lands."  Their  report  is  not  recorded; 
but  a  committee  is  chosen  "to  take  care  of  the  money  which  the 
School  Lands  were  sold  for,  and  to  see  to  it  that  the  same  is  safe 
and  that  the  Interist  of  the  same  be  paid  yearly  and  lodged  in 
the  town  treasury,"  etc. 

The  ministry  and  school  lots  were  leased  year  by  year  until 
they  were  sold.  In  1768,  the  school  lands  were  leased  as  follows : 
"To  James  Eddy  £  0.  3.  0;  To  Sam'  Glover  £  0.  12.  0;  To 
Isaiah  Chaffee  £  0.  4.  0;  to  Amos  Chaffee  £  0.  4.  0;  To  John 
Bliss  £0.  6.  0;   Total  £  1.  9.  0." 

In  1772-73,  the  town  voted  to  receive  155  pounds  5  shillings 
5  pence  from  former  treasurers,  Samuel  Stebbins  deceased,  and 


116 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Isaac  Brewer  for  money  received  for  Land  Tax  sales,  and  sale  of 
overplus  land. 

In  1773,  a  committee  of  seven  reported  to  the  town  that  they 
had  sold  the  two  ministry  lots  and  delivered  to  the  town  "nine 
bonds  for  Money  on  Interest  Due  to  said  town  on  account  of 
the  sale  of  the  Ministry  Lands  so  far  as  they  have  sold  of  the 
same,  Viz: — 


James  Ferry,      one 

Dated  June  8th  1772, 

£93. 

2.0 

Jonathan  Mirick  " 

"         "       "       " 

41. 

10.  0 

Ezekiel  Russell 

"     1st,    " 

10. 

17.  8 

Amos  Hitchison    " 

"      May  28,     " 

12. 

10.0 

Joseph  Dunham   " 

"         "       "       " 

31. 

18.  3 

Benj.  Farmin 

"      June  8, 

39. 

18.  0 

Oliver  Bliss            " 

"         "     "         " 

27. 

8.0 

Levi  Bliss 

"         "     "         ♦' 

76. 

9.  6 

Caleb  Stebbins 

for  over  plus  lands 

"     " 

15. 

0.  0 

Total,  Lawfull  Money      349.    3.5" 

If  we  deduct  the  £  15  received  for  overplus  land  we  have 
£  334.  3.  5  from  the  sale  of  the  ministry  lots,  with  perhaps  some 
additions  later,  the  income  from  which  would  be  for  the  "sup- 
port of  the  gospel." 

In  the  treasurer's  accounts  of  the  North  Parish,  the  first 
record  of  interest  money  received,  that  I  have  found,  is,  January 
1st,  1794,  "By  forty  Dollars  by  the  town  committee  £  12.  0.  0;" 
1795,  "By  thirteen  pound  ten  shillings  interest  money  13.  10.  0;" 
179(3,  "By  forty  five  dollars  Interest  money  13.  10.  0" 

Then  forty-five  dollars  is  received  each  year  until  1803.  I 
have  not  found  any  account  of  the  treasurer's  receipts  from 
1803  to  1815. 

Beginning  with  1815  to  1829,  $45.00  is  received  each  year, 
with  perhaps  one  or  two  exceptions,  "from  the  town  for  the 
support  of  the  Gospel."  It  is  sometimes  entered,  "Interest  on 
loan  money." 

The  Stebbins  History  says: 

"The  epic  of  this  period  yet  remains  to  be  recited, — the  words 
and  deeds  of  our  fathers  during  the  Revolutionary  War.     The 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  117 

subject  is  as  rich  in  inspiration  as  in  instruction  for  us,  the  grand- 
children and  great-grandchildren  of  these  men.  The  records  are 
full  of  the  proceedings  of  the  town, — passing  resolutions  of 
sympathy  with  the  suffering  city  of  Boston;  sending  aid  to  the 
families  whose  members  were  killed  or  wounded  at  the  Lexing- 
ton fight;  sending  men  into  the  field  by  the  payment  of  large 
bounties;  furnishing  their  share  of  beef  to  the  commissarv^; 
giving  clothing  to  the  half-naked  soldiers;  choosing  committees 
to  'take  care  of  persons'  inimical  to  the  State;  struggling  with  a 
depreciated  currency;  voting  one  silver  dollar  in  paying  taxes 
to  be  equivalent,  first  to  seventy-five,  then  to  eighty,  then  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  of  paper  money;  filling  a  draft 
of  every  seventh  man;  and  leaving  the  crops  in  the  field  to 
be  harv^ested,  as  well  as  planted,  by  the  old  men,  the  children, 
and  the  women.  Such  is  a  glance  at  the  deeds  I  am  to 
rehearse. 

"The  great  cause  of  the  Revolutionary  War — taxation  without 
representation — had  stirred  up  a  deep  feeling  of  hostility  to  the 
mother  country,  and  the  indirect  manner  in  which  the  tax  was 
levied — by  a  tariff  on  imported  goods  from  Great  Britain  and 
the  British  possessions — only  added  fuel  to  the  flame.  They 
could  not  escape  the  tax,  unless  they  ceased  using  the  goods 
imported.  If  they  made  no  purchases,  they  would  pay  no  taxes. 
Accordingly  an  association  was  formed  in  1769,  by  the  mer- 
chants in  Boston,  whose  inembers  pledged  themselves  to  import 
no  more  of  the  taxed  articles,  and  the  citizens  were  petitioned  to 
cease  trading  with  all  merchants  who  would  not  pledge  them- 
selves to  import  no  more  of  them  from  England  or  her  depend- 
encies. This  pledge  of  the  citizens  was  not  only  circulated  in 
the  town  of  Boston,  but  was  also  sent  to  all  the  towns  in  the 
colony.  The  appeal  from  the  merchants  reached  the  citizens 
of  this  town  in  the  spring  of  1770,  and  at  a  town-meeting  held 
May  1,  of  which  Lieut.  Thomas  Merrick  was  moderator,  it  was 
'Voted  that  the  Marchants  not  only  of  our  Metropolis  but 
thro'  the  continent  have  acted  Generous  and  as  becoming 
Gentlem[en]  of  a  free  Constitution  and  as  well  wishers  of  their 
Fellow  Men  in  that  they  have  Nobly  Preferred  the  Public  good 
to  their  own  private  interest,  and  with  a  view  to  obtain  a 
Redress  of  those  Grievances  so  Justly  complained  of  have  by  a 
certain  agreement  engaged  to  Suspend  their  Importations  from 
Great  Britain,  a  Measure  which  cannot  but  be  approved  by 
every  wise  and  Generous  Man,  and  which  we  hope  will  prove 
Instrumental  to  Effect  the  Salutary  Design  in  view.'  'Voted 
that  the  above  vote  be  recorded  in  the  Town  Book  and  a  Copy 


118  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

thereof  to  be  transmitted  to  the  committee  of  Inspection  in  the 
Town  of  Boston  in  order  to  be  PubHshed.' 

"This  is  the  first  voice  from  Wilbraham,  five  years  before  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  and  it  is  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  men 
and  the  crisis.  Our  hearts  swell  with  gratitude  as  we  repeat  the 
words.  We  feel  taller  and  stronger  as  we  remember  they  were 
the  words  of  our  ancestors. 

"The  town  clerk,  the  renowned  Master  Barker,  adds  to  his 
record  of  the  above  vote,  'N.  B.  It  was  moved  in  the  meeting 
to  pass  some  Votes  relating  to  not  purchasing  goods  of  those, 
who,  contrary  to  the  merchant's  agreement,  continue  to  Import, 
and  also  relating  to  the  Horrid  Murther  lately  committed  in 
Boston  by  the  Soldiers :  but  a  rumour  that  the  Duty  acts  were 
repealed,  and  being  an  Infant  town  [mark  the  modesty  as  well  as 
the  manliness  of  the  fathers,  for  the  town  was  not  yet  seven 
years  old]  in  the  Province,  the  Meeting  thought  Prudent  not  to 
show  themselves  too  forward  in  passing  many  votes  in  the 
affair.'  Their  patriotism  is  surpassed  by  nothing  but  their 
modesty.  They  desired  no  quarrel  with  the  mother  country, 
and  hoping  the  'rumour  of  repeal'  was  true,  they  passed  over 
without  action  the  article  'to  see  if  this  town  will  take  care 
Speedily  to  Procure  and  Provide  a  Stock  of  Powder  and  Am- 
munition.' 

"No  further  action  was  taken  by  the  town  for  the  next  three 
years.  The  controversy  was  carried  on  mainly  between  the 
colonial  Governor  and  the  citizens  of  Boston,  though  active 
correspondence  was  kept  up  with  other  towns  in  the  state.  At 
a  town  meeting  held  April  6,  1773,  Ezra  Barker,  Isaac  Brewer, 
Eleazer  Bliss,  John  Bliss,  and  Nath'l  Warriner  were  chosen  a 
committee  '  to  take  into  Consideration  Corresponding  with  the 
town  of  Boston  relative  to  the  Crown  fixing  Salaries  upon  our 
officers  without  our  Consent.'  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held 
April  20th,  'at  3  o'clock  P.  M.,'  this  committee  make  their 
report  in  reply  to  the  appeal  of  the  Boston  Committee,  drawn 
up  in  part  by  Samuel  Adams  and  Joseph  Warren,  and  presented 
to  the  town  meeting  of  Boston,  November  20,  1772,  by  James 
Otis,  that  flaming  torch  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle.  In 
what  words  could  these  simple  citizens  of  young  Wilbraham 
respond  to  the  sentences  of  fire  which  came  blazing  from  the 
pen  of  Adams,  and  thundering  from  the  lips  of  Otis?  Listen  to 
them, — modest,  manly,  heroic:  'We,  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Wilbraham  this  20th  day  of  April  A.  D.  1773  in  town 
meeting  Lawfully  assembled  by  adjournment  Take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  acknowledge  the  favour  of  a  Pamphlet  printed  by  order 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  119 

of  the  town  of  Boston  at  their  meeting  Nov.  20th,  1772,  wherein 
the  rights  of  the  Colonists  are  stated  together  with  a  Hst  of 
pubhck  Grievances  or  infringements  of  those  rights,  &c.,  we 
freely  acknowledge  that  we  are  a  few  days  later  than  might 
justly  be  expected  &  perhaps  some  will  say  that  we  are  fore- 
closed on  account  that  the  Honorable  House  of  Representatives 
have  taken  the  matter  in  hand,  others  may  venture  to  say  that 
Seeing  Wilbraham  is  but  an  Infant  town,  the  Inhabitants  there  of 
are  bold  and  Imprudent,  in  meddling  with  the  affair:  Since  the 
most  anticent  towns  in  the  same  Country  have  lain  still  and  done 
nothing;  we  answer  that  we  have  a  call  to  be  very  bold  to  stand 
for  and  maintain  our  just  rights  and  privileges  especially 
at  this  so  CRITICAL  time.  And  if  we  may  be  allowed  to  use 
Scripture  Language  we  would  have  recourse  to  the  words  of 
Elihu  and  say,  I  am  young  and  ye  are  very  old,  wherefore  I  was 
afraid  and  Dust  not  Show  you  mine  opinion.  I  said  Days  should 
Speak  and  multitude  of  years  should  teach  wisdom.  But  there 
is  a  Spirit  in  man  &°c., — Therefore  I  said  Hearken  to  me  I  also 
will  Show  mine  opinion. — Behold,  /  waited  for  words,  &c.  Thus 
far  the  Introduction,  and  after  taking  thankful  notice  of  the 
late  conduct  of  the  honorable  house  of  representatives  we  will 
proceed  to  a  f6w  resolves."  In  these  resolves  the  committee 
say  it  is  (1)  "the  opinion  of  this  town  that  the  rights  of  the 
Colonists  as  stated  in  the  Boston  Pamphlet  in  general  are  well 
and  Justly  Stated  and  we  have  too  much  reason  to  believe  that 
there  is  an  attempt  made  to  abridge  us  of  those  rights,  which  is 
Cruel  and  unreasonable;  (2)  that  in  faithfulness  to  ourselves  to 
our  posterity  and  as  friends  to  the  English  constitution  and 
nation  as  well  as  faithful  and  loyal  Subjects  to  our  Sovereign 
Lord  the  King,  we  may  not  dare  sit  still  as  Idle  Spectators 
and  DO  nothing,  Wherefore  Considering  ourselves  a  part  of  the 
whole,  and  members  of  the  same  Body  and  that  our  Interests  are 
Joint  Interests  (3)  we  are  willing  &  will  unite  and  Join  with  our 
Brethren  in  pursuing  all  Proper  &  Lawful  methods  whereby  we 
may  gain  redress  of  those  Grievances  so  Justly  Complained  of 
and  which  are  like  to  prove  So  hurtful  to  the  good  Subjects  of 
the  King  as  well  as  Dishonorable  to  his  Crown.  (4).  Resolved  as 
the  opinion  of  this  town  that  we  are  not  Sensible  that  we  or  our 
Brethren  of  this  Province  have  Done  anything  thus  to  forfeit 
our  Just  rights  or  to  merrit  the  Displeasure  of  our  Sovereign, 
but  on  the  other  hand  we  verily  Beleive  that  the  People  of  this 
Province  and  throughout  the  whole  British  America  are  as 
true  and  as  Loyal  subjects  as  any  in  the  King's  Dominions,  Sit 
the  Same  time  we  Cannot  omitt  Saying  that  it  is  with  Pleasure 


120  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

we  observe  Stiddiness  and  firmness  of  the  people  in  their  resolu- 
tions as  well  as  good  temper  in  standing  for  and  maintaining 
their  Just  rights  and  Priviledges  and  that  all  mobs,  routs  and 
riots  are  laid  aside — and  Furthermore  we  are  of  opinion  that  if 
petitions  for  redress  in  a  proper  Channel  were  repeatedly  and 
humbly  presented  to  our  King  &  our  earnest  prayers  Continually 
put  up  to  the  King  of  kings  the  saine  accompanied  with  a  uni- 
versal reformation  this  would  give  us  reason  to  hope  that  our 
Priviledges  wold  be  restored  and  Continued  to  us  and  that  we 
might  yet  remain  a  happy  People.'  Resolves  every  way 
worthy  the  age  of  heroes  and  sages. 

"The  state  of  affairs  grew  no  better,  and  in  December,  the  tea 
was  thrown  overboard  in  Boston  Harbor  by  a  party  of  citizens 
disguised  as  Indians,  among  whom  was  Robert  Sessions,  who 
soon  afterwards  settled  in  this  town  and  became  one  of  our  most 
worthy  and  influential  citizens. 

"In  June,  1774,  Gage  filled  Boston  with  troops,  and  the  Com- 
mon was  covered  with  tents.  A  special  meeting  of  our  citizens 
was  held  June  23d.  The  town  meeting  was  'very  full.'  Mr. 
John  Bliss  was  chosen  moderator.  It  was  voted  that  'Dea. 
Warriner  Should  Desire  Mr.  Mirick  to  Come  and  Pray  accord- 
ingly Mr.  Mirick  opened  S"^  meeting  by  prayer.'  This  is  the  first 
record  of  a  prayer  being  offered  at  a  town  meeting. 

"  'Afer  several  Letters  or  Covenants  sent  from  the  town  of 
Boston  to  the  town  of  Wilbraham  were  read,  it  was  further 
voted  after  Largely  Discoursed  upon  that  Some  words  Should  be 
Dashed  out  in  the  first  article  in  the  Covenant  and  some  be  aded, 
voted  that  the  Last  article  in  the  Covenant  should  be  all  Dasht 
out  &  voted  there  Should  be  words  aded  under  the  Last  article 
in  the  Covenant ;  voted  and  chose  Dec"  Warriner  Lieut  Thomas 
Mirick  and  James  Warriner  a  Com''^  to  make  Enquiry  to  See 
what  other  towns  Do  before  they  send  S^  Covenant  to  the  town 
of  Boston  &  voted  that  S*^  Com'*"  should  not  send  S'^  Covenant 
without  further  orders  from  S'^  town.  This  covenant  says  there 
being  no  alternative  between  the  horrors  of  Slavery  or  the 
Carnage  and  desolation  of  a  Civil  war  but  a  Suspension  of  all 
Commercial  intercourse  with  the  island  of  Great  Britain,  we  do 
solemnly  Covenant  and  engage  with  each  other  (1)  that  from 
henceforth  we  will  Suspend  all  Commercial  intercourse  with 
said  island  of  Great  Britain  *  *  *  and  (2)  that  we  will  not  buy 
purchase  or  Consume  or  Suffer  any  person  by  for  or  under  us  to 
purchase  or  Consume  in  any  manner  whatever  any  goods  weres 
or  merchandize  which  shall  arrive  in  America  from  Great 
Britain  *  *  *  *  and  that  we  will  break  off  all  trade  Commerce 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


121 


and  dealings  whatever  with  all  persons  who  Prefering  their  own 
Private  intrist  to  the  Salvation  of  their  now  perishing  Country- 
shall  still  continue  to  Import  goods  from  Great  Britain  or  shall 
purchase  of  those  who  do  Import  and  (3)  we  agree  to  purchase 
no  article  of  merchandize  of  any  who  do  not  sign  this  covenant.' 
Then  follow  the  signatures  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
patriotic  men,  who,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  were  heads  of  families." 

Names  of  those  who  signed  the  Non-Consumption  Pledge. 


Paul  Langdon, 
Thomas  Coleman, 
Noah  Stebbins, 
Moses  Warriner, 
Thomas  King, 
Daniel  Cadwell,  Jr. 
Jonathan  Bliss, 
Aaron  Alvord, 
Peleg.  Woodworth, 
Henry  Ely, 
Stephen  Cotton, 
Noah  Warriner, 
Moses  Stebbins,  Jr. 
Moses  Bartlett,  Jr. 
Nathaniel  Bliss, 
Gabril  Burnham, 
Jonathan  Ely,  Jr. 
Abel  Bliss, 
Levi  Bliss, 
Abner  Badger, 
Calvin  Stebbins, 
John  Bliss, 
Ezra  Barker, 
Joseph  Chaffee, 
Paul  Hitchcock, 
Rheuben  Hitchcock, 
Moses  Burt,  Jr. 
David  Warriner,  Jr. 
Abel  King, 
Rowland  Thomas, 
Jonathan  Sikes, 
Phinias  Stebbins, 
James  Warriner, 
John  Langdon,  2d. 
Nathaniel  Warriner ,2d 
John  Jones, 
Joseph  Sikes, 
Jesse  Warner, 
David  Bliss, 
Joseph  Abbot, 
Benoni  Atchinson,  Jr. 
Silas  Hitchcock, 


1774 

John  Hitchcock, 
Thomas  Jones, 
Caleb  Stebbins,  Jr. 
Martin  Nash, 
Nehemiah  Abbot, 
Abner  Warriner, 
Gideon  Burt, 
Amos  Hutchinson, 
Abner  Chapin,  Jr. 
John  Chaffee, 
William  Stacy, 
Jesse  Lambfaire, 
Rowland  Crocker, 
Thomas  Lewis, 
Enos  Stebbins, 
Joel  Chaffee, 
Soloman  King, 
John  Langdon, 
Samuel  Bartlett, 
Ephraim  Chapin, 
Samuel  Warner, 
David  Perry, 
Lieutt.  Thomas  Mirick 
Serg't  Moses  Burt, 
Dea.  Natha.  Warriner, 
Joseph  Burnham, 
Benoni  Atchinson, 
Eleazer  Smith, 
Ser.  William  King, 
David  Warriner, 
David  Lyon, 
Abner  Chapin, 
Samuel  Bebee, 
Oliver  Bliss, 
Gideon  Kibbee, 
Jonathan  Ely, 
Nathaniel  Hitchcock, 
John  Lumis, 
Elijah  Parsons, 
Joseph  Jones, 
Lewis  Langdon,  Jr. 


Isaac  Dunham, 
Joseph  Bumstead, 
Zadock  Stebbins, 
Stephen  Bliss, 
Zadock  Bebee, 
Moses  Colton, 
Simeon  Chaffee, 
Moses  Bartlett, 
Ezekiel  Russel, 
Jabes  Hendrick, 
Joseph  Mason, 
Ebenezer  Crocker, 
Samuel  Dunham, 
Thomas  Bliss, 
Ebenezer  Stacy, 
John  Plumbey, 
Nathan  Ainsworth, 
Moses  Stebbins, 
Samuel  Sexton, 
Asa  Chaffee, 
Justin  Stebbins, 
Asa  Waukor, 
David  Chapin, 
William  Orsborn, 
Zenas  Jones, 
Benjamin  Wright, 
Aaron  Bliss, 
Isaac  Orsborn, 
Ebenezar  Thomas, 
Samuel  Warner,  Jr. 
Henry  Chandler, 
Charles  Warriner, 
Ephraim  Wight, 
Ephraim  Wight,  Jr. 
Caleb  Stebbins, 
Levi  Cadwell, 
Henry  Wright, 
Amos  Chaffee, 
Serg't  Aaron  Stebbins, 
Serg't  Daniel  Cadwell, 
Ebenezer  Bebee. 


122  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

These  fathers  of  ours  felt  that  higher  wisdom  than  man's  was 
needed  in  the  "great  crisis"  and  they  finally  "Resolved  that  as 
God  in  his  providence  is  frowning  upon  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Land  in  the  Civil  Distresses  which  we  begin  to  feel  dr  many 
others  which  we  Can  Easily  fore  bode,  we  think  it  proper  to  Set 
apart  one  Day  in  three  months  as  a  Day  of  fasting  &  prayer  to 
All  Mighty  God  for  his  help  in  our  Deliverance  and  in  this  way 
Look  to  that  being  for  Releif  by  whom  Kings  reign  &  princes 
decree  justice,  Sensable  for  our  Encouragement  that  in  this  way 
God  was  wont  to  releive  people  of  old,  and  that  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  particular  Day  be  left  to  our  Rev'*  Paster  or  the 
Select  [men]  of  the  town. ' '  They  then  ' '  voted  very  unanimously 
&  Granted  twenty-five  pounds  to  provide  a  town  Stock  of 
ammunition  as  the  Law  directs." 

There  were  tories  in  town  and  some  professedly  neutral 
persons  who  needed  attention,  and,  January  2,  1775,  a  commit- 
tee of  fifteen  was  chosen  "to  see  that  the  Continentil  and 
Proventil  Congresses  associations  and  resolves  are  Strictly 
attended  to."  At  the  same  meeting  they  chose  "Maj.  John 
Bliss  a  Deligate  for  a  provential  Congress  proposed  to  be  held 
att  Cambridge  the  first  day  of  febuary  next  or  Sooner  if  Cald 
for;"  and  chose  a  committee  of  seven  "to  Collect  a  Donation 
for  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Boston  and  See  that  the  Same  is 
Transported  as  soon  as  may  be."  A  body  of  "minute  men"  had 
already  made  "Extraordinary  preparation"  for  "immediate 
Service"  and  that  was  soon  to  be  called  for  and  promptly 
rendered. 

General  Gage,  commander  of  the  British  troops  in  Boston, 
had  determined  to  get  possession  of  the  ammunition  and  arms 
of  the  province  which  he  heard  were  stored  at  Lexington  and 
Concord.  On  the  night  of  the  eighteenth  of  April  the  troops 
stole  out  of  Boston  hoping  to  reach  Lexington  without  being 
discovered,  but  the  concerted  signal  flashed  from  the  spire  of 
the  New  North  Church,  and  Paul  Revere  was  instantly  on  his 
way  from  Charlestown  to  Lexington,  rousing  the  inhabitants  on 
the  road,  so  that  when  Major  Pitcairn  who  led  the  advance  of 
the  troups  reached  the  Common  he  found  the  ' '  minute  men ' '  of 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  123 

Lexington  drawn  up  in  arms  before  him.  He  ordered  them  to 
disperse.  They  stood  their  ground.  He  ordered  his  men  to 
fire.  That  volley  opened  the  Revolutionary  War.  Couriers 
were  despatched  on  the  fleetest  horses  to  arouse  the  people 
everywhere  and  carry  the  flaming  torch  of  alarm  through  the 
country.  On  the  20th,  we  may  suppose,  just  as  the  sun  was 
passing  the  meridian,  a  rider  was  seen  coming  down  the  Bay 
Road  at  full  speed,  his  horse  dripping  and  smoking  with  sweat, 
who  barely  checked  his  pace  before  Samuel  Glover's  door,  and 
announced  the  fight,  calling  upon  the  "minute  men"  to  hasten 
to  the  rescue.  He  was  off  and  out  of  sight  on  his  way  to  Spring- 
field in  a  moment.  Blood  had  been  shed!  Glover  mounts  his 
horse  and  rides,  as  he  never  rode  before,  down  by  Jones's  and 
Bliss's  calling  on  them  to  come  on  as  he  goes.  Brewer  and 
Merrick,  and  Warriner  the  captain  of  the  minute  men,  rush  in 
from  the  field.  The  long  roll  is  beaten  by  Charles  Ferry,  so  that 
the  mountain  answers  it  from  Oliver  Bliss's  to  Noah  Stebbins. 
Merrick  mounts  his  horse  and  flies  down  the  west  road  to  the 
Hitchcocks,  and  the  Stebbinses,  the  Chapins,  and  the  Langdons, 
by  the  Scantic.  Burt  tells  his  most  vigorous  son  to  cross  the 
mountains  by  Rattle  snake  Peak  as  swift  as  the  winds  ever 
swept  over  them,  and  rouse  the  Crockers,  the  Cones,  the 
Russels,  the  Kings,  and  to  stay  not  his  speed  till  all  the  men  of 
the  south  valley,  from  the  comer  to  Isaac  Morris's  were  sum- 
moned to  the  march;  then  to  return  without  delay  along  the 
east  road  by  the  Chaffees,'  Hendricks,'  and  Carpenters,'  and 
over  the  mountains  by  Rev.  Noah  Merrick's,  home.  It  was 
done  as  quick  and  as  well  as  said.  "Edward"  said  Isaac  Morris 
to  his  son,  "bring  the  horse."  And  as  soon  as  he  had  slung  his 
powder-horn  over  his  shoulder,  put  his  bullets  into  his  pocket, 
and  taken  down  his  trusty  gun  from  its  hooks,  the  faithful 
steed  was  at  the  door.  Breathing  a  prayer  for  his  heroic  wife, 
standing  by  in  speechless  submission,  he  was  off  at  full  speed  on 
the  track  of  young  Burt,  and  passing  up  the  same  road.  Comfort 
Chaffee  and  Jesse  Carpenter  joined  him,  and  rode  for  the 
mountain,  while  Enos  Stebbins  and  Asa  Chaffee,  from  south  of 
the  Scantic,  rushed  over  to  William  King's  and  together  up  the 


124  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

middle  road,  taking  Ezckiel  Russell  and  Rowland  Crocker  in 
company,  and  all  joined  those  coming  up  the  west  road  and 
over  the  mountain,  at  the  Nathaniel  Warriner  bam,  about  a 
half  mile  south  of  the  center  of  our  main  village. 

Before  the  mountain  ceased  to  glow  with  that  day's  departing 
sun,  thirty-four  men,  with  the  blessing  of  their  wives,  and  the 
prayers  of  the  fathers  who  were  too  old  to  go  into  battle,  were 
on  the  "great  Bay  Road,"  hastening  on  their  way  to  defend 
and,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  their  rights.  But  the  "red-coats "  had 
returned  to  Boston  in  fewer  numbers  and  more  rapidly  than 
they  left  it,  and  our  "minute  men"  returned  after  ten  days  to 
the  quiet  and  security  of  their  own  homes.  Such  was  the 
' '  Lexington  alarm . ' ' 

A  company  of  forty-five  men,  thirty-four  of  whom  were  of 
this  town,  was  at  once  organized  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Paul  Langdon,  as  eight  months'  men;  they  were  encamped  in 
Roxbury  and  formed  part  of  the  army  which  besieged  Boston. 
It  is  evident  that  a  very  close  watch  was  kept  upon  those  who 
were  suspected  of  faithlessness  in  heart  or  weakness  in  knee, 
for,  at  a  town  meeting,  September  2,  1776,  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  was  made,  after  a  "Large  Debate"  to  remove  "L' 
Wm.  King  and  Mr.  Enos  Stebbins"  from  the  committee  "of 
Correspondence,  Inspection  and  safety  &  in  the  rome  and  Sted 
thereof  Chusc  two  other  members  for  S"^  Com""."  The  Article 
to  see  if  the  town  "will  immediately  furnish  themselves  with  a 
town  stock  of  ammunishon  &  fire  arms  if  it  can  be  procured" 
was  also  "past  over  &  not  acted  upon." 

In  the  autumn  of  1776,  there  was  fear  of  an  invasion  from 
Canada,  and  the  town  furnished  thirty-two  men,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Daniel  Cadwell,  who  rendered  service  "at 
Ticonderoga  from  December  5,  1776,  to  April  2,  1777."  The 
town,  as  well  as  the  whole  state,  was  startled  September,  1776, 
by  what  was  called  the'  Bennington  Alarm,  and  a  company  of 
fifty -two  men,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  James  Shaw,  left 
town  September  24,  for  the  seat  of  danger.  They  were  present 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  at 
Saratoga.    As  there  was  no  call  for  further  service,  the>-  returned 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  125 

and  were  discharged,  October  18,  after  a  campaign  of  only 
thirty-two  days.  The  next  November  the  town  voted  to  pay 
the  soldiers  who  marched  on  the  alarm  towards  Bennington, 
£  11.  It  was  fomid  very  difficult,  after  the  first  gush  of  patriot- 
ism was  spent,  to  obtain  men  for  the  war,  especially  for  any  long 
period  of  service,  and  £  12  bounty  was  offered  for  volunteers, 
March  18,  1777,  to  fill  up  the  town's  quota  of  "every  seventh 
man." 

From  organizing  the  militia,  and  furnishing  soldiers  for  the 
army,  the  town  turns  to  framing  a  constitution;  and  instruc- 
tions were  given.  May  23,  "to  [Maj.  John]  Bliss  and  [Capt 
John]  Shaw,"  representatives  from  the  town,  to  form  "Such  a 
Constitution  of  Government  as  other  Representatives  of  this 
State  in  one  body  with  the  Council  Shall  Judge  best  Calculated 
to  promote  the  happiness  of  this  State,"  which  body  they  are 
directed  to  join;  but  they  are  "to  take  head  in  all  their  doings 
and  be  Strictly  careful  in  forming  Said  Constitution  that  the 
JUST  RIGHTS,  Liberties  &  Priviledges  of  the  people  in 
general  be  well  guarded  df  Secured  against  all  unjust  Incroach- 
ments  whatever  *  *  *  that  in  all  their  proceedings  they  have 
Special  recorse  (as  an  assistance)  to  a  Little  book  or  Pamplet 
Intitled  'The  People  the  best  Governors,  or  a  Plan  of 
Government,  &c.,'  "  and  finally,  that  "they  use  their  influence 
and  endeavors  that  such  acts  or  Laws  as  have  ben  already  anacted 
and  are  like  to  prove  hurtful  to  this  or  any  State  be  amended  or 
repealed.''  Jealousy  of  power  in  the  hands  of  government  is 
shown  most  distinctly  in  these  instructions,  and  will  be  found 
deeply  ingrained  in  the  very  hearts  of  our  fathers  all  through 
their  history. 

At  this  time,  the  trouble  with  the  depreciating  paper  currency 
begins  to  make  its  appearance.  Silver  coin,  in  which  taxes  must 
be  paid,  could  not  be  obtained  except  at  a  high  premium,  and 
it  was  very  difficult,  almost  impossible,  for  the  people  to  pay 
their  taxes.  Instructions  are  therefore  given  by  the  town, 
November  21,  1777,  to  Col.  John  Bliss  and  Capt.  John  Shaw, 
representatives,  "to  use  their  influence  to  repeal  the  act  made 
for  Calling  in  the  States  money." 


126  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

The  sufferings  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field  and  of  their  families 
at  home  were  becoming  so  severe  as  to  call  for  the  action  of  the 
town,  and  at  a  meeting,  held  January  5,  1778,  five  men  were 
chosen  a  committee  ' '  to  Collect  Donations  for  the  Continential 
Soldiers  belonging  to  this  town."  And  "L'  John  Hitchcock, 
Lewis  Langdon  and  L'  Ebenezer  Russel"  were  "chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  take  care  of  those  families  that  their  husbands  are  gone 
into  the  war  for  the  term  of  three  years  or  During  the  war." 

The  constitution  or  frame  of  government  which  had  been 
framed  for  the  state  during  the  past  year  was  submitted  to  the 
people  for  acceptance,  and  this  town,  March  26th,  1778,  voted 
against  it,  "24  votes  in  favor  and  51  against."  There  is  no 
record  of  its  objectionable  features.  A  call  was  made  upon  the 
town  for  its  quota  of  seven  men  to  join  General  Washington's 
army  at  Fiskhill,  New  York,  and  a  bounty  of  £  60  was  offered, 
May  11,  1778,  to  those  who  should  volunteer;  and  if  none 
volunteered,  the  same  sum  was  to  be  given  to  the  seven  men 
who  might  be  drafted.  Two  days  after,  at  another  town 
meeting,  clothing  was  voted  to  the  soldiers  "equal  to  one- 
seventh  part  of  the  male  Inhabitants  agreeable  to  a  late  act  of 
the  General  Court."  Also  an  article,  in  a  warrant  for  a  town 
meeting  to  be  held  in  August  "to  see  if  the  town  will  make 
Choise  of  Some  person  or  persons  to  procure  Shirts,  Shoes  and 
Stockings  for  the  Continential  Soldiers  agreeable  to  a  Late  act  of 
the  general  court  of  this  State."  There  is  no  record  of  choosing 
such  a  committee.  The  town  clerk  was  absent  and  a  clerk  pro 
tern  officiated.  It  is  probable  he  did  not  make  full  returns,  for 
money  is  appropriated  at  the  November  meeting  "to  pay  for 
cloathing  procured  for  the  Continential  Souldiers,  £  101,  and 
for  one  pair  of  shoes  omitted  for  a  Continential  Soldier  £  2,  25." 

The  difficulty  of  raising  men  increased  as  the  war  went  on. 
Paper  money  was  rapidly  depreciating,  and  the  volunteer 
could  not  rely,  for  a  month,  upon  the  nominal  value  of  his  pay. 
The  town  endeavored  to  obviate  this  difficulty  by  offering 
grain,  at  a  fixed  price,  instead  of  paper  money,  to  all  who  would 
"Inlist." 

It  was  voted,  June  22,   1779,   "that  Each  man  who  would 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  127 

Inlist  into  the  Continental  amiy  for  the  Term  of  nine  month 
and  Join  the  Continental  Army  for  that  Term  for  Each  months 
Service  they  shall  have  Forty  Shillings  Pr.  month,  wheat  at 
6s.  Pr.  Bushel,  Rie  at  4  Shillings  Pr.  bushel,  Com  at  3  shilHngs 
Pr.  Bushel,  oats  at  1  s.  6  d  Pr  Bushel,  wool  at  2  Shillings  Pr 
Pound,  flax  at  lOd.  Pr.  Pound  in  addition  to  their  Continental 
Pay  &  State  Bounty."  A  committee  is  chosen  "to  procure  the 
above  articles,"  and  to  draw  on  the  treasury  for  money.  After 
an  adjournment  of  half  an  hour,  apparently  for  free  consulta- 
tion, wheat  is  put  at  "4  s.  Pr.  Bushel,  Rie  at  3  shillings  Pr. 
Bushel  and  Indian  Com  at  2  Shillings  Pr  Bushel."  The  meeting 
adjourned  for  half  an  hour,  then  for  six  days,  when  it  is  "voted, 
June  28,  that,  if  men  do  not  volunteer,  the  men  who  are  drafted 
shall  have  the  same  bounties;"  and,  also,  to  quicken  action,  it 
is  "voted  that  this  town  will  advance  200  dollars  advance  pay 
to  be  Reducted  out  of  their  forty  Shillings  a  month  according 
as  the  above  S"^  Committee  Shall  adjudge  Right  and  Equitable 
Between  the  Town  and  Said  Soldiers." 

Agreeable  to  the  advice  of  the  delegates,  who  met  at  Concord, 
another  convention  is  called  to  form  a  new  constitution  for  the 
state  to  meet  at  Cambridge,  and  Capt.  Phineas  Stebbins  was 
chosen  "Deligate,"  August  16,  and  the  following  carefully  pre- 
pared instructions  were  given  him — which  show  most  signally 
that  our  fathers  were  scrupulously,  if  not  wisely,  jealous  of  the 
personal  rights  of  the  people  and  of  the  power  of  the  govern- 
ment,— ^namely,  "  (1)  As  to  the  Choice  of  Govenor  Lieut. 
Governor  and  Counsil  that  they  be  Chosen  Annually  b}'  the 
people;  (2)  That  all  Civil  officers  be  Chosen  Annually  by  the 
People ;  (3)  That  no  Town  in  this  State  be  allowid  to  send  more 
then  two  Representatives  in  one  year  to  the  General  Court; 

(4)  that  no  Civil  officer  be  a  Legislative  Officer  at  the  same  time  ; 

(5)  that  all  of  the  above  officers  Shall  be  Professors  of  the 
Protestant  Religion."  Thus  instructed,  their  "Deligate" 
joined  his  associates  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  Wednesday  of 
September. 

The  prices  of  commodities  had  become  so  irregular  and  uncer- 
tain that  an  in\dtation  was  sent  out  from  a  "  Committee  who  set 


128 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


at  South  Hadley,  Signed  E.  Porter,"  to  the  towns  "To  choose 
Delegates  to  meet  in  convention  at  Northampton  to  adopt  a 
scale  of  prices  which  shall  be  uniform  and  permanent."  "Lieut. 
John  Hitchcock  and  Doctor  Sam'l  F.  Merrick"  were  chosen 
Delegates.  In  September,  a  committee  of  eight  is  chosen  to  take 
their  report  into  consideration,  and  to  report  "to  the  Town 
what  they  think  the  Prices  of  the  Several  Articles  (therein  set 
down)  ought  to  be."  No  report  was  made  by  this  committee. 
It  was  found,  probably,  that  the  subject  was  too  complex  to 
admit  of  the  application  of  any  specific  rules. 

The  enemies  of  their  country  grow  bolder  as  the  burdens  of 
the  war  increase,  and  renewed  vigilance  is  demanded  of  the 
friends  of  freedom.  A  committee  of  seven  was  chosen  in  Sep- 
tember "To  TAKE  CARE  OF  PERSONS  IN  THIS  TOWN  SuSPECTED 

TO  BE  Enemical  TO  THE  AMERICAN  STATES,"  and  they  are 
"directed  to  demean  themselves  according  to  the  Present  Laws 
of  this  State." 

The  difficulties  which  hindered  the  raising  of  men  continued 
to  accumulate.  The  demand  was  imperative,  the  work  well- 
nigh  impossible.  A  desperate  rally  was  made  in  October,  and 
£  400  were  raised  for  the  soldiers'  bounty  and  mileage  money, 
and  subscriptions  were  opened  that  the  money  might  be 
promptly  obtained,  the  sums  subscribed  to  be  deducted  from 
the  taxes  of  the  persons  subscribing.  Forty-three  names  are 
recorded  as  subscribers.  Lieut.  John  Hitchcock  subscribed  the 
largest  sum,  fifty-five  dollars.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  Subscribers  for  Soldiers'  Bounty: 


"  Mr.  Sam"  Warner  $50. 

Lt.  Eben.,  Russel  $40. 

Mr.  Eleazer  Smith  6. 

Col.  John  BUss  45. 

Mr.  Latham  Burdick  7. 

Lt.  John  Hitchcock  55. 

Mr.  Rowland  Crocker  20. 

Capt.  Abel  King  40. 

Sergt  Philip  Lion  40. 

Mr.  Wni.  Stacy  14. 

Mr.  John  Williams  38. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Russel  30. 

Lt.  Noah  Stebbins  17. 


Lt.  Gideon  Kibbe 
Mr.  John  Firniin 
Sergt  Daniel  Cadwell 
Mr.  Mo.ses  Stebbins 
Lt.  Thomas  King 
Mr.  Lewis  Landgon 
Moses  Stebbins,  Jr. 
William  Brewer 
Lt.  Jesse  Warner 
vSerg't  Gideon  Burt 
Capt.  Paul  Langdon 
Joshua  Edy 
Mr.  Joel  Chaffee 


10. 

7. 

30. 

39. 

30. 

$20. 

8. 
20. 
50. 
10. 
40. 
30. 

7. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  129 


Sergt  John  Langdon 

20. 

David  Warriner,  Jr.                        32 

Lt.  William  King 

6. 

Chileab  B.  Merrick                         30 

Gains  Brewer 

30. 

Thomas  Maxon                               30 

Mr.  Comfort  Chaffee 

6. 

Noah  Warriner                                20 

Serg't  David  Bliss 

20. 

John  Glover                                      30 

Jonathan  Bliss 

20. 

Mr.  David  Burt                               50 

Benoni  Atchinson,  Jr. 

20. 

Doct.  Sam.  F.  Mirick                     30 

William  King,  Jr. 
Mr.  Asa  Chaffee 

50. 
10. 

Attest,  NOAH  WARRINER, 

Moses  Burt,  Jr. 

20. 

Toivn  Clerk.' 

In  November  the  town  voted  £  2,860  (the  sum  shows  how 
paper  money  had  depreciated)  to  the  soldiers  gone  for  nine 
months. 

The  war  is  drawing  to  a  close.  Washington  succeeded  in 
shutting  Lord  Cornwallis  up  in  Yorktown,  and  the  whole 
British  army,  under  his  command,  surrendered  October  19, 
1781.  But  the  heart  of  the  King  was  not  softened,  and  inen 
and  money,  and  beef  and  blankets,  and  shoes  and  stockings 
were  yet  needed  and  demanded.  The  town  granted,  October 
13,  1781,  £  8,000  to  procure  8,310  cwt.  of  beef,  and  in  November 
they  granted  £  2,000  more  to  finish  the  purchase,  directing  their 
committee  ' '  To  give  no  more  than  one  hundred  &  twenty  pound 
pr.  hundred  for  S*^  beef."  In  the  same  month,  November  23, 
1781,  the  town  "voted  that  the  Committee  pay  out  all  the 
money  Granted  for  the  nine  months  Soldiers  at  80  Dollars  pr. 
bushel  for  wheat,  50  dollars  pr.  bushel  for  rie,  33  Dollars  and 
two  shillings  pr.  bushel  for  Indian  com,  that  is  not  paid  out." 
In  answer  to  the  call  for  fifteen  men  for  three  years,  or  during 
the  war,  it  was  voted  that  "150  silver  dollars  or  paper  at  the 
exchange"  be  paid  to  each  man  who  enlists.  It  is  evident 
enough  from  these  prices  that  patriotism  was  no  more  fervent 
and  self-sacrificing  in  those  days  than  it  is  in  ours.  More  beef 
is  demanded,  and  £480  "new  Corency"  is  voted  "to  procure 
15,957  cwt.  of  beef."  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  silver  with 
which  to  pay  the  State  Tax  had  so  increased  that  the  wisest 
could  not  tell  how  to  procure  the  money,  and  the  boldest  were 
ready  to  repudiate  the  tax.  A  committee  was  chosen,  February 
26,  1782,  to  petition  the  General  Court  about  the  "Silver  rate 
and  all  other  grievances."    They  presented  their  petition  to  an 


130  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

adjourned  meeting  ten  days  after.  It  was  "Sagely  Debated," 
but  as  the  meeting  was  small,  no  vote  was  taken  at  that  time, 
but  at  the  next  meeting  it  was  voted  to  send  the  petition ;  then 
the  vote  was  reconsidered,  and  after  debating  the  subject  at 
five  adjourned  meetings,  continued  into  April,  the  meeting  was 
dissolved.  These  particulars  indicate  the  strong  feeling  which 
was  growing  up  in  the  town  respecting  the  deranged  condition 
of  the  State  and  national  finances. 

Soldiers  could  not  be  raised  in  the  usual  way,  and  the  town 
was  divided  into  classes,  and  a  soldier  assigned  to  each  class. 
Fifteen  districts  were  made  of  the  town,  according  to  population 
or  wealth,  and  each  one  of  these  districts  furnished  a  man,  either 
of  their  own  number  or  from  some  other  place,  or  paid  the  fine 
imposed  for  noncompliance,  which  at  this  time  was  about  £45. 
As  the  town  could  not  pay  the  money  in  hand  which  they  had 
agreed  to  give  the  soldiers  on  entering  the  service,  they  gave  a 
note  for  the  principal,  and  paid  the  interest.  The  town  is  also 
required  to  furnish  6,585  cwt.  more  beef,  and  £132  are  granted, 
July  25,  to  purchase  it.  A  new  requisition  of  men  is  made,  and 
it  is  voted  to  give  the  soldiers  who  were  to  serve  for  three 
months  "  50  s.  per  month  and  they  draw  their  own  wages  [i.  e.  of 
the  State  or  nation]  or  £4  per  month  and  the  town  draw  their 
wages"  and  also  voted  to  pay  "each  soldier  40  s.  before  he 
march."  The  men  could  not  be  obtained;  and  a  week  after, 
the  town  granted  20  s.  in  addition  to  the  £  4  per  month,  and 
voted  that  "each  soldier  be  paid  £  3  before  he  marches,"  and  to 
pay  the  whole  £  180.  In  November,  £  60  more  are  granted  to 
purchase  the  balance  of  the  beef  of  the  old  requisition,  and 
£140  to  purchase  what  a  new  requisition  required;  and  in  pay- 
ing rates  it  is  voted  that  one  Silver  Dollar  Shotild  answer  75 
Dollars"  [in  paper  money]. 

It  becomes  more  and  more  difficult  to  raise  money;  and  the 
town  in  their  perplexity  and  distress  went  so  far,  May  12,  1783, 
after  the  treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed,  as  to  vote  to  "  Instruct 
their  Representative  not  to  grant  Congress  the  impost  Re- 
quested by  them  for  the  express  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue 
Independent  of  the  States  nor  to  supply  Congress  any  way  untill 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  131 

the  half  pay  to  the  officers  of  the  army  in  the  Communication 
thereof  be  settled  and  entirely  given  up."  The  war  closed,  but 
not  the  financial  difficulties.  Paper  money  sank  in  value 
rapidly,  sank  to  worthlessness  very  soon.  It  would  not  pav 
debts,  nor  buy  bread!  The  attempt  to  collect  debts  in  silver 
which  were  contracted  in  paper  currency  was  calculated  to 
provoke  a  rebellion.  A  man  who  borrowed  a  hundred  dollars 
must  pay  four  thousand  or  lose  his  farm.  The  first  emission 
became  worthless  after  the  issue  of  the  second.  A  pound  of  the 
bills  was  not  worth  a  pound  of  butter. 

"Eldad  Stebbins  was  constable  in  1776.  There  is  a  tradition 
preserved  among  the  papers  of  Calvin  Stebbins  to  this  effect : — 
The  depreciation  of  paper  money  was  such  that  he,  having  lost 
an  ox,  took  the  town's  money  in  his  hands,  and  bought  a  pair  of 
oxen,  for  forty  dollars,  and  before  he  was  required  to  make  his 
final  settlement  with  the  town  treasurer,  cider  would  sell  for 
twelve  dollars  a  mug, — three  and  one-third  mugs  of  cider  would 
pay,  did  pay,  for  the  oxen." 

Creditors  began  to  press  their  helpless  debtors.  Silver,  the 
only  legal  tender,  could  not  be  had.  The  unprincipled  took 
advantage  of  the  times  and  forced  the  payment  of  debts,  secur- 
ing liens  on  real  estate  worth  immensely  more  than  the  amount 
of  the  real  indebtedness.  The  courts  were  thronged.  It  is  said 
that  twelve  hundred  suits  were  presented  at  one  term  of  the 
court  at  Northampton.  There  was  no  peace,  though  peace  was 
proclaimed.  Men  who  had  poured  out  their  blood,  either  from 
their  own  veins  or  from  those  of  their  sons,  were  now  to  be 
deprived  of  the  farms  they  had  cleared,  the  houses  they  had 
built.  The  blessings  of  liberty  and  prosperity,  for  which  they 
had  fought,  seemed  to  be  escaping  their  grasp.  Their  own 
friends  seemed  to  have  become  foes.  The  people  were  enraged, 
and  their  rage  was  fanned  into  a  consuming  flame  by  deluded 
and  designing  demagogues,  and  especially  by  one  Samuel  Ely, 
a  discarded  minister,  who  had  preached  for  a  time  in  Somers. 

In  regard  to  this  Samuel  Eh-,  I  find  that  he  had  been  preaching 
as  a  candidate  at  Somers,  Conn.,  previous  to  1769,  and  a  council 


132  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

had  been  called  to  ordain  him  as  a  minister  but  had  refused  to 
do  so,  but  he  had  continued  preaching.  Among  papers  left  by 
John  Bliss,  Esq.,  of  South  Wilbraham,  I  find  that  another 
council  was  called  for  the  same  purpose.  The  following  is  part 
of  their  report.  "April  12,  1769,  Council  called  at  Somers  Ct. 
to  ordain  Mr  Samuel  Ely  as  Minister  and  reported  against  it." 
Eight  reasons  were  given  why  they  refused.  Part  of  the  7th 
reason  is :  "  Mr.  Ely  appears  to  us  to  be  totally  void  of  the  most 
esential  qualifications  to  a  Gospel  Minister  and  to  be  at  best 
but  a  Novice." 

"8/^  He  has  used  some  of  the  most  Horrid  and  abomniablc 
Expressions  in  some  of  his  Sermons,  as  for  Instance  'That  if 
God  is  the  author  of  Sin  the  hotest  place  in  Hell  is  too  good  for 
Him,'  and  at  another  time  said  this  to  his  audience:  'I  have 
done  my  duty,  God  will  do  his,  and  if  you  dont  do  yours  You 
will  be  Damned'  &c."  (Signed)  Sam"  Raynolds,  Daniel 
Sexton,  John  Fuller,  Noah  Chapin,  Charles  Sheldon,  Stephen 
Holmes  Scribe  of  S'^  Council." 

In  A]3ril,  1782,  a  mob  led  by  Ely  disturbed  the  holding  of 
the  court  at  Northampton.  He  was  arrested  and  im- 
prisoned at  Springfield  but  was  released  by  a  mob.  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1782,  "Deacon  John  Hitchcock,  Dr.  John  Sterns, 
and  Abner  Chapin  were  chosen  Delicates  to  set  in  a  county 
convention,  to  be  holden  in  Hatfield  on  the  first  Tuesday 
in  April  next."  Suits  became  more  and  more  vexatious,  and 
money  more  and  more  worthless.  In  October,  1783,  another 
delegate  was  chosen — Dr.  John  Steams — "to  set  in  a  County 
Convention  to  be  holden  in  Hatfield  at  the  Dwelling  house  of 
Colonel  Seth  Murry."  The  tumult  increased  in  different  parts 
of  the  state,  and  arms  were  not  seldom  resorted  to  by  the  mob. 
In  April  25,  1786,  Capt.  Phineas  Stebbins  and  Mr.  David  Burt 
were  chosen  delegates  to  sit  in  a  county  convention  at  Hatfield ; 
and  in  August  of  the  same  year  "  Lt.  Noah  vStebbins  is  chosen  to 
Represent  the  town"  in  another  convention  to  be  held  at  the 
same  place;  and  in  the  ensuing,  November,  Elijah  Parsons  is 
chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  a  con\'cntion  to  be  held  in 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  133 

Hadley  the  next  day.  So  the  flames  raged.  Soon  after  this 
time,  Luke  Day,  of  West  Springfield,  had  organized  his  forces, 
on  the  west  of  the  river,  and  Daniel  Shays  was  coming  on,  with 
what  forces  he  could  muster,  from  the  east.  It  was  the  purpose 
of  these  men  to  take  the  arsenal,  on  the.  hill  at  Springfield,  and 
seize  the  arms.  GeheraTShepard  had  assembled  about  1,000 
loyal  men  at  Springfield  To'Sefend  the  arsenal,  and  General 
Lincoln  was  pressing  on  with  his  army  from  Worcester.  It  was 
important  that  Shays,  and  Day,  who  had  1,900  men,  should 
attack  General  Shepard  before  General  Lincoln  could  reinforce 
him.  On  the  24th  of  January,  Shays  reached  Wilbraham  and 
spent  the  night,  with  his  soldiers  quartered  on  the  inhabitants. 
That  day  he  had  sent  a  messenger  with  a  letter  to  Day  to  be 
ready  for  the  fight  the  next  day;  but  the  messenger,  on  his 
way  back,  pinched  with  the  cold,  went  into  a  tavern  in  Spring- 
field to  warm  himself,  and  some  young  men  present,  suspecting 
all  was  not  right,  so  plied  him  with  friendly  draughts  that  they 
soon  put  him  into  a  drunken  sleep  and  got  from  his  pocket 
Day's  letter  to  Shays,  saying  that  he  could  not  fight  till  the 
26th.  Of  this  Shays  knew  nothing.  But  worse  was  to  befall 
him.  The  men  of  Wilbraham  were  not  idle.  "Asaph  King,  at 
that  time  deputy  sheriff,  Col.  Abel  King,  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick, 
and  Dea.  Noah  Warriner  met  to  devise  a  way  of  conveying  to 
General  Shepard  intelligence  of  the  proximity  of  the  force.  It 
was  at  last  decided  that  the  job  belonged  to  the  sheriff'.  On  the 
morning  of  the  25"^,  Shays  moved  toward  Springfield,  'on  the 
Bay  Road;'  when  King  mounted  a  splendid  young  horse,  that 
stood  saddled  in  his  bam,  and  started  him  across  the  fields  to 
the  'stony  hill  road.'  The  snow,  knee-deep  to  his  horse,  was 
covered  with  a  crust,  and  he  was  obliged,  in  some  instances,  not 
only  to  make  a  path  for  his  horse,  but  to  pull  down  or  leap 
fences.  When  he  came  out  upon  the  road,  the  legs  of  his  horse 
were  streaming  with  blood.  He  was  far  ahead  of  Shays,  and, 
spurring  on,  reached  the  arsenal  in  forty-five  minutes  from  the 
time  he  left  Wilbraham."  Shepard  now  learned  all  the  particu- 
lars of  the  number  and  proximity  of  the  force  of  Shays,  which 
were   important    to   him,    and   prepared   to   meet   him.      The 


134  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

marching  was  bad,  and  Shays  did  not  make  his  appearance  on 
the  road  till  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  After  some 
parleying,  and  some  boasting  on  the  part  of  Shays,  his  column 
moved  on  toward  the  loaded  cannon  of  Shepard,  who  had 
threatened  to  fire  if  he  did  not  halt.  The  insurgents  passed  on, 
not  believing  that  Shepard  would  dare  to  fire.  It  was  no  time 
for  dallying;  yet  Shepard,  to  show  all  possible  forbearance, 
fired  first  to  the  right,  then  to  the  left,  then  over  the  heads  of 
the  column.  But  still  they  came  on,  the  harmless  roar  of  the 
cannon  frightening  the  village  more  than  the  insurgents.  They 
are  within  fifty  rods  of  the  battery,  and  pressing  on.  It  was  now 
time  to  fire  in  earnest.  The  cannon  are  trained  on  the  centre  of 
the  column ;  the  match  is  whisked  in  the  air ;  the  column  comes 
on;  the  priming  is  touched;  the  smoke  belches  forth,  and  the 
shots  fly.  Soon  the  smoke  lifts.  The  column  is  broken  and 
flying,  crying,  "Murder!"  Three  men  lie  dead,  and  four  are 
mortally  wounded.  Shays  could  not  rally  his  men,  and  they 
fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation  till  the  scattered  column,  the 
disorganized  mob,  reached  Ludlow,  where  they  spent  the  night. 
I  am  not  aware  that  any  Wilbraham  men  joined  Shays;  but 
John  Langdon,  the  hero  of  two  wars,  then  over  sixty  years  of 
age,  who  was  in  Shepard 's  army,  used  to  take  keen  delight  in 
narrating  how,  with  his  old  "Queen's  Arm"  at  his  eye,  he 
frightened  a  whole  squad  of  Shays-men  to  throw  down  their 
arms  and  surrender.  The  insurrection  was,  soon  after  this, 
wholly  put  down.  The  insurgents  dispersed  to  their  homes,  and 
an  amnesty  almost  general  was  declared.  By  special  legislation 
the  pecuniary  affairs  of  the  state  were  adjusted  so  as  to  relieve 
to  a  great  extent  the  sufferings  of  the  people,  and  soon  prosperity 
filled  the  purses  and  gamers  of  the  town.  The  popularity  of 
Shays  was  very  great,  however,  among  some  people,  and,  as 
late  as  forty  years  after  the  rebellion,  "Hurrah  for  Shays!"  was 
as  common  an  exclamation,  in  the  mouths  of  many  persons,  as 
"Hurrah  for  Jackson!"  was  twenty  years  later. 

The  great  struggle  for  independence  is  over;  The  rebellion- 
consequent  on  a  state  of  universal  bankruptcy,  is  put  down; 
the  constitution  of  the  state  is  adopted;   the  ordinary  channels 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  135 

of  business  are  opening  to  the  enterprising;  prosperity,  peace, 
and  happiness  succeed  the  poverty,  tumult,  and  anxiety  of  war. 

It  is  reported  that  there  were  a  few  Wilbraham  men  in  the 
mob  of  Shays.  There  were  many  of  our  men  with  General 
Shepard.  Nine  Chaffees  are  said  to  have  answered  to  the  roll- 
call  of  Shepard's  army,  on  the  morning  of  the  battle.  As  their 
names  were  called  in  succession,  it  caused  no  little  amusement : 
"Asa  Chaffee,  Asa  Chaffee,  Jr.,  Comfort  Chaffee,  Comfort 
Chaffee,  Jr.,"  etc. 

It  is  also  reported  that  four  or  five  men  from  the  south  part  of 
the  town,  who  were  on  their  way  to  join  the  insurgents,  were 
met  near  the  Sessions  place,  by  one  who  was  returning  from  the 
affair,  and  informed  that  Shays  was  defeated,  and  that,  "it  is 
all  over." 

There  is  a  curious  story  about  the  Deacon  Nathaniel  Warriner 
house,  in  connection  with  the  Shays  Rebellion.  On  the  after- 
noon of  the  24th  of  January,  the  day  that  Shays  had  quartered 
his  soldiers  for  the  night  on  the  people  of  Wilbraham,  he  sent 
an  outpost,  or  picket,  of  four  men  down  to  that  house.  The 
four  men  went  over  the  house  to  see  that  everything  was  safe 
and  clear  for  their  stay  over  night.  They  found  the  door  to  the 
north  front  chamber  locked.  They  knew  the  chamber  was 
occupied  by  someone,  because  of  sounds  they  had  heard,  but 
their  demand  for  admittance  was  not  answered.  After  shaking 
the  door  in  an  effort  to  open  it,  one  of  them  said,  "Let's  smoke 
him  out!"  "Smoke  him  out"  they  all  shouted.  They  climbed 
up  on  to  the  roof,  put  a  wet  blanket  over  the  north  flue  of  the 
chimney,  put  more  fuel  on  the  fire  that  was  already  burning  in 
the  fireplace  downstairs,  and  rushed  back  to  the  locked  chamber 
door.  The  smoke  from  the  fire  below  poured  out  through  the 
fire  place  in  the  room  above,  and  filled  it  with  the  stifling  fumes. 
The  door  flew  open  and  a  woman,  carrying  a  boy  about  half  a 
year  old,  staggered  out  from  the  smoke  filled  chamber,  choking 
and  gasping  for  breath.  They  had  succeeded  in  "smoking 
him  out,"  but  he  wasn't  very  dangerous  to  them,  and  I  believe 
they  apologized  for  the  trouble  they  had  made.  I  have  always 
thought  there  must  have  been  some  reason  for  that  woman's 


136  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

act,  and  it  may  be  that  it  was  done  to  keep  those  men  of  Shays 
engaged  around  the  Warriner  house,  while  sheriff  Asaph  King 
and  the  others  mentioned  were  holding  their  conference  in  a 
near-by  house,  to  arrange  a  way  to  inform  General  Shepard  of 
their  presence. 

I  insert  here  a  copy  of  Dr.  Merrick's  Journal,  as  printed 
in  the  "Stebbins  History." 

\  JOURNAL  OF  SAMUEL  F.  MERRICK,  M.  D. 

ON  THE  Expedition  of  the  Wilbraham  Company 
AT  THE  "Bennington  Alarm." 

1777.  Sept.  29.  About  two  in  the  afternoon  set  out  from 
home  on  an  expedition  to  the  northern  army,  arrived  at  Spring- 
field, tarried  till  night  then  dismissed  till  to  morning  nine 
o'clock  passed  the  river  with  Leut.  King  in  order  to  lodge  with 
Uncle  Merrick.  30,  met  according  to  order  and  after  deliberat- 
ing till  about  four  o'clock  we  proceeded  on  our  march.  Leut. 
King  returned  to  bring  up  the  rear.  Went  to  my  uncles  to 
lodge  again  the  company  proceeded  forward. 

Oct.  1  about  nine  o'clock  set  out,  overtook  the  company  at 
Peas,  went  in  company  with  them  about  four  mileg,  put  up  at 
Crockers  lodged  at  the  next  house.     • 

Oct.  2.  Seargant  Lamb  and  Brewer  with  Solomon  Warriner 
&  myself  proceeded  forward  in  order  to  put  out  our  horses,  went 
as  far  as  Lanesborough,  after  much  difficulty  got  entertainment 
at  one  Powels  near  the  middle  of  the  town 

3d  Turned  to  the  Eastward  Bush  Meadow,  after  much  diffi- 
culty got  our  horses  put  out  at  East  Hoosuch  at  Major  Roger 
Rose  where  we  lodged. 

4th  Took  my  horse  in  to  Williamstown,  sent  him  back  to  S*^ 
Rose  and  marched  on  foot  about  four  miles  on  the  road  to 
Bennington  then  turned  to  the  left  and  went  about  six  miles 
to  one  Co'  Plat. 

6th  Set  out  in  the  morning  and  arrived  there  soon,  found 
that  our  troops  were  all  ordered  up  the  River,  Ordered  to 
encamp  until  further  orders.  In  the  afternoon  heard  canon 
briskly  toward  head  quarter;   very  anxious  to  hear  the  event. 

8  This  morning  an  express  arrived  from  head  quarters 
informing  that  Gen.  Gates  had  caried  sundry  Redoubts  &  all 
the  Enemys  out  lines  and  twas  expected  by  the  motions  that 
they  would  retreat  soon,  likewise  with  orders  for  us  to  Press 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  137 

forward  with  all  dispatch,   accordingh^  half  after  twelve  we 
marcht  and  travilled  till  sunset  about  twelve  miles. 

9  Gen.  Barly  from  N.  Hampshire  lodged  in  the  same  house 
with  us  last  night,  two  expresses  arrived  informing  us  that  the 
enemy  were  actually  on  the  retreat,  orders  for  us  to  make  no 
delay  in  order  to  harass  them  upon  their  retreat,  set  out  very 
early  and  arrived  at  Batter  Hill  before  noon  about  three  miles 
from  Saratoga,  a  very  rainy  afternoon,  soon  after  our  arrival 
there  was  an  alarm  that  the  Enemy  was  upon  us,  but  it  proved 
to  be  false. 

10  Lodged  in  a  com  house  last  night,  about  midnight  there 
was  another  allarm  but  this  likewise  Proved  false.  In  the 
morning  concluded  to  join  Col.  Porter,  but  before  we  did  he 
marched  down  to  the  river,  we  followed  on  but  was  ordered 
more  to  the  southward,  which  we  obeyed  and  reconoitering  the 
shore  found  a  boat  ashore  which  we  were  guarding  when  a  num- 
ber of  others  came  floating  down  which  we  took,  lodged  here 
this  night. 

12.  Continue  still  to  guard  the  boats,  the  Enemy  are  now 
about  a  mile  below  the  church,  there  has  been  a  scattering  fire 
ever  since  the  retreat  began  and  still  continues  nothing  material 
hapening  the  army  excepting  Gen  Gates  sent  in  a  fiagg  demand- 
ing a  surrender,  but  I  have  heard  no  answer.  This  morning 
Gen.  Nickson  made  an  attack  upon  the  enemy  but  by  mistake 
Gen  Learned  who  was  to  attack  them  in  the  west  at  the  same 
time  delayed  about  fifteen  minutes  after  a  severe  fire  a  few 
minutes  was  obliged  to  retreat. 

14  Ordered  that  there  be  a  cessation  of  arms  til  sun  set. 
Sundry  fiaggs  passing  back  and  forth,  in  the  evening  reported 
that  Gen.  Burgoine  had  agreed  to  resign  himself  and  army 
Prisoners  of  War,  to  march  out  to  morrow  morning. 

15  Went  over  to  Saratoga  in  expectation  of  seeing  the 
Enemy  march  out,  and  after  waiting  the  whole  day  was  obliged 
to  return  without  having  my  expectations  answered  but  with 
great  confidence  reported  that  the  stipulation  was  actually 
signed  and  that  it  was  to  take  place  to  morrow. 

16  Waiting  to  see  the  army  march  out  but  by  some  reason 
or  other  is  delayed,  towards  evening  heard  that  it  was  put  off 
till  to  morrow. 

17  .4  day  never  to  be  forgotten  by  the  American  States.  About 
Eleven  O  clock  A.  M.  Gen.  Burgoine  with  a  number  of  Other 
officers  rode  out,  escorted  by  sundry  officers  of  the  Continental 
army  and  a  little  south  of  the  church  was  met  by  Gen.  Gates, 
and  after  a  polite  compliment   proceeded  to  head  quarters; 


138 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


about  two  the  army  began  to  march  out.  I  taried  till  after  four 
when  I  returned.  They  had  not  all  then  marched  out,  but  I 
believe  nearly,  the  number  can  by  no  means  ascertain  but 
should  be  inclined  to  think  between  five  and  six  thousand  but  I 
am  by  no  means  a  competent  judge,  tho'  I  had  a  good  view  of 
them.  The  Lord  be  praised  for  this  wonderful  token  of  divine 
favor  for  which  we  cannot  be  sufficiently  thankfull." 


SOLDIERS  OF  WILBRAHAM  WHO  SERVED  IN 
THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 

(Copied  from  the  Stebbins  History.) 

"Dec.  5^"^  1775. 

"A  Roll  of  Capt.  James  Warriner's  Company  of  Wilbraham 
who  marched  in  defence  of  Ammerican  Liberty  on  y^  Alarm 
last  April  occasioned  by  "'e  Lexington  Fight.  Time  of  service, 
ten  days: 


"James  Warriner  Capt. 
Wm  King  Lit. 
John  Hitchcock  Lit. 
Enos  Stebbins  S^ 
Thos  King  St 
Aaron  Alvard  St 
Elea--  Smith 
Samii  Day 
Josh  Chaffee 
Samii  Mirick 
Asa  Chaffee 
Isaac  Morris 


Moses  Colton 
ChiUab  Mirick 
Jona  Cooley 
Isaac  Dunahni 
Ezekiel  Russell 
Reuben  Thayer 
Benj.  Farnham 
Comfort  Chaffee 
Jesse  Warner 
Jesse  Carpenter 
Josh  Jones 
Rowland  Crocker 


Darius  Chaffee 
Eben""  Cadwell 
Joshua  Eddy 
Enos  Clark 
Ezek'  Wright 
Calvin  Stebbins 
Thos  Coleman 
Gideon  Burt 
Abel  King 
Charles  Brewer 
Benj.  Colton 
John  Stearns 


"A  return  of  Capt.  Paul  Langdon's  Company,  in  Col.  David- 
son's Reg*^ — on  Command  at  Quebeck  Oct.  6,  1775: 


"Paul  Langdon,  Capt. 
Daniel  Cadwell  l^t  Lieut. 
Noah  Warriner  Sargt. 
John  Langdon       " 
Philip  Lyon  " 

Aaron  Stebbins  Corp. 
Othniel  Hitchcock" 
Charles  Ferry  Drum"" 
Abner  Warriner  fifer 
Daniel  Carpenter 
Aaron  Cadwell 
Jonathan  Sikes 
Seth  Clark 
Abner  Chapin 
Nathan  Sikes 
Moses  Simons 
Phanuel  Warner 


John  Langdon  2"^ 
Daniel  Simons 
Simon  Stacy 
John  W.  Chaffee 
Ephraim  Wright  Disch^ 
John  Davis 
Reuben  Shavler 
Nathaniel  Mighets 
Ephraim  Dunham 
Ephraim  Wight  Jr.  Dis. 
Benjamin  Chubb  Dead 
Moses  Rood 
Eli  Beebe 
Simeon  Bates 
Joseph  Dunham 

Also  thirteen  others  not  residents 
of  Wilbraham. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


139 


"Service   at   Ticonderoga,    Dec.    5,    1776   to   Apr.    2,    1777. 
Capt.  Daniel  Cadwell's  Co.  Col.  Tim°  Robinson'^  Detachment: 


"Daniel  Cadwell,  Capt. 
Daniel  Parsons,  1st  Lt 
Robert  McMaster,  2  Lt 
John  Colton,  Sr. 
Joseph  Abbott 
John  McKlewain  Sr. 
Stephen  Wright      '' 
Medad  Stebbins  Cor. 
Abner  Warner        " 
Aaron  Colton  " 

Joseph  Colton         " 
Judah  Moore  Dr. 
William  Colton  Fifer 
Luther  Bliss 
Ebenezer  Beebe 
Steward  Beebe 


Zadock  Beebe 
Jesse  Carpenter 
Asa  Chaffee 
Amos  Chaffee 
John  Hancock 
Jabez  Hancock 
John  Hitchcock 
Isaac  Morris 
Moses  Stebbins 
James  Shaw 
Samuel  Warner 
Daniel  Chapin 
Judah  Chapin 
Jesse  Lampeare 
John  Stebbins 
Perez  Hitchcock 


"180  miles  travel  £7.  7S.  bomity 
"99  Days  Service 
"Wages  per  month  60S. 

"  Bennington  Alarm,  1777: 

"Capt.  James  Shaw's  Company.    Charles  Pynchon  Esq. 
Sep.  24,  to  Oct.  18.    Time  of  service  32  days: 


Col. 


"James  Shaw,  Capt. 
Noah  Stebbins,  Lieut. 
Eben""  Colton  " 

Joseph  Sexton  Sergt. 
Charles  Ferry         " 
Gad  Lamb  " 

Gaius  Brewer  " 

Josiah  Cooley  Cori. 
Aaron  Chanwell   " 
Abenor  Chapin     " 
Calvin  Stebbins,  fifer 
Gordin  Percival 
Samuel  F.  Merrick 
Edward  Colton 
Jon^  Leech 
Jona-  Merrick 
Luther  Hitchcock 
Benj.  Howard 
Solomon  Loomis 
Geo.  Cooley 
Nathi  Warner 
David  Bliss 
Asa  Jones 
Solomon  Warriner 
Phinehas  Hitchcock 
Comfort  Chaffee 


Timothy  Worthington 
Daniel  Sweetland 
Solomon  Lothrop 
Oliver  King,  Lieut. 
Jabin  Cooley 
David  Wood 
John  Chaterton 
Luther  Cooley 
Reuben  Warriner 
Israel  Chapin,  Lieut. 
John  Colton 
Lem'  Whitney 
Elijah  Parsons 
Judah  Ely 
John  Langdon 
Edward  Morris 
Jesse  Lamphere 
Aaron  Stebbins 
Judah  Willey 
Isaac  Morris 
David  White 
Matthew  Keep 
Asa  Simonds 
Aaron  Howard 
Zadock  Stebbins 


140  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Eight  Months'  Service,  1778: 

"In  Capt.  Malcom  Henry's  Co.  Col.  David  Brewer's  Regi- 
ment. 

"Levi  Bannister  fifer.  Paul  Newton 

In  Capt.  Isaac  Colton's  Co.  Solomon  King 

Luther  King  fifer.  Samuel  Calking,  Drafted 

Daniel  Colton  Jonathan  PoUey       " 

"Nine  Months'  Service,  1778: 

"Lewis  Langdon  John  Colkins 

Moses  Albert  John  Russell 

John  Huntley  \   Joseph  Cutt,  a  negro. 
Zadoc  Benton 

"Moses  Albert  did  not  pass  muster,  having  lost  half  of  one 
of  his  feet. 

"Six  months'  Soldiers,  serving  in  the  Continental  Army  of 
the  United  States  in  1780: 

"David  AUin,  Ebenezer  Thomas,  Joseph  Bumpstead,  Daniel  Mason, 
Gad  Warriner,  Zenas  Cone,  John  James  Sikes,  John  White,  Gaius  Stebbins, 
Reuben  Abbott,  Isaiah  Chaflee,  Stephen  Simons,  Ethan  Smith,  Titus 
Amidown,  Kittridge  Davis,  Seth  Warner,  Henry  Wright,  Emmons  Lillie, 
John  Orcutt, 

"In  Continental  Army  for  three  years,  about  1778: 

"Jonas  Banton,  Nathaniel  Hitchcock,  Samuel  Lyon,  John  Raymont,  Asa 
Woodworth,  Peleg  Burdick,  Phineas  Mason. 

"The  following  served  at  some  time  under  Capt.  John  Car- 
penter : 

"Nathan  Ainsworth,  Jotham  Carpenter,  Chester  Morris,  John  Amidown, 
Phillip  Lyon,  Johnson  Richardson,  Isaiah  Chaffee,  Reuben  Carpenter, 
James  Richardson,  Josiah  Langdon. 

"In  Capt.  Abel  King's  Co.  Col.  Ashley's  Regiment: 

"Jesse  Elwell,  Jabez  Percival,  John  White,  Eliphalet  Hodges,  Johnson 
Richardson,  Francis  West. 

"In  Capt.  J.  Woodbridge's  Co.  Col.  Tyler's  Regiment: 
"Caesar  Mirick,  a  negro,  Gaius  Stebbins,  Oliver  Sexton. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


141 


"In  Capt.  Joseph  Browning's  Co.  Col.  Murray's  Regiment: 
"Asa  Hill,  John  Thwing,  Israel  Conant. 

"In  Capt.  Reuben  Munn's  Co.  Col.  Nathan  Dvke's  Regt. 
1776: 

"Daniel  Bliss,  Sergt.,  James  Eddy,  Aaron  Hitchcock,  Zadock  Stebbins, 
Corp.,  John  Russell,  Gamaliel  Dunham,  Jos.  Bumpstead,  Drummer,  Peleg 
Burdicic. 

"In  Capt.  Phineas  Stebbins  Co.  P*^  Hampshire  County  Regt: 

"Lieut.  Gideon  Kibbe.  He  also  served  as  Lieut,  in  Capt.  Samuel  Burt's 
Co.     Col  Elisha  Porter's  Regt. 


POWDER  HORN. 

Carried  in  the  Revolutionary  War  by  Lieut.  Gideon  Kibbe,  1776.     His  home 
was  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  original  town  of  Wilbraham. 

'  Soldiers  who  died  or  were  killed  in  the  Revolutionary  War : 


"Benjamin  Chob, 

1775 

Malam  Dunham, 

1776 

Solomon  King, 
Nathaniel  Miles, 

1776 

Joseph  Butler, 
Daniel  Warriner, 

1777 

Phanuel  Warner, 

Capt.  Dan.  Cadwell 

" 

George  Mirick, 
Aaron  Bliss, 
Joseph  Morris, 

Serj.  Joseph  Abbott 
Samuel  Lyon 
Moses  Simons 

1778 
1780 

Benjamin  Russell 
Josiah  Wright 
Joshua  Leach 

John  Chaffee 

Luther  Ainsworth 

Isaac  Skinner,  by  Indians 

M 

"In  all,  20.     Killed  in  battle,  4.     Died  by  disease,  16. 


142 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


"Revolutionary  Pensioners: 


"Ezra  Barton, 
Henry  Wright, 
Levi  Thayer, 
Samuel  F.  Mirick, 
Asaph  King, 
Capt.  Shield, 

Walbridge , 

Lewis, 

Samuel  Lyman, 


$30.00  per  year. 

96.00  " 

96.00  " 

246.66  " 

180.00  " 

120.00  " 

80.00  " 

96.00  " 

33.33  " 


David  Stebbins,  $24.00  per  year. 
Samuel  Chapin,     24.00 
Stephen  Merril,      24.00 

Learned,  96.00 

Chaffee,  24.00 

Reuben  Hitchcock24.00 
John  Hamlin,  96.00 
Charles  Cooley,  36.00 
Robert  Sessions     48.00 


Names  of  men  in  the  war  of  1812,  for  seven  months: 

Ralph  Bennett,  Eleazar  Hitchcock,  Phineas   Burr,   Stephen  Cadwell, 
Robert  Sessions,  Solomon  Jones,  Joel  M.  Lyman. 


"THE  GREEN" 


SCHOOL   HOUSE  ON  "THE  GHKEN. 
District  No.  3. 


Among  the  papers  of  Col.  John  Bliss  of  South  Wilbraham,  I 
have  found  the  following  Petition.  It  relates  to  the  triangular 
piece  of  land  in  our  town,  known  as  "The  Green."  The  school- 
house  of  District  No.  3,  is  now  located  on  it.     An  Act  of  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  143 

Legislature  was  necessary  to  permit  the  erection  of  the  school- 
house  there. 

"Wilbraham  April  25""  1769,  to  the  meeting  of  the  Inhabit- 
ants of  the  town  of  Wilbraham  this  Day  Convened. 

"Gentlemen  there  is  a  Comer  or  Wedge  of  Land  being  part 
of  the  overplus  Land  belonging  to  the  Second  or  Middle  Divi- 
sion of  the  Outward  Commons  so  Called  Containing  about  one 
acre  more  or  Less  and  now  uninclosed  the  same  Bounded  west 
upon  the  principal  Highway  in  this  town  by  Serg'  Burts  and 
there  is  in  wedth  near  nine  rods  and  runs  thence  Easterly 
about  Fifty  rods  and  ends  in  a  point  and  also  Lyeth  South 
of  the  Highway  which  runs  east  and  west  upon  the  Said 
Overplus  Land  We,  the  subscribers  therefore  pray  that  this 
meeting  will  pass  a  vote  that  the  said  wedge  of  Land  may 
be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  this  town  as  Common  Land  or 
Highway." 

"Voted  and  Established  as  before  mentioned." 

There  was  a  library  in  Wilbraham  much  earlier  than  in  many 
of  the  surrounding  towns.  I  have  not  learned  all  I  would  like 
to  know  about  it.  I  suppose  that  Solomon  Warriner,  the 
librarian,  lived  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  in  the  fourth 
house  north  of  the  Tinkham  Road,  where  Mr.  L.  L.  Stone  lives 
now.  At  a  later  period  there  were  libraries  in  some  of  the 
school  districts.  That  in  District  No.  12,  (now  District  No.  3) 
was  kept  by  Reuben  Pease,  in  his  shoemaker's  shop,  on  the  east 
side  of  Main  Street,  which  stood  a  little  north  of  his  house,  now 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  his  son,  George  Pease,  and  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Miller.  I  drew  books  from  that  library  about  1854.  The 
school  in  that  district  was  then  held  in  the  house  now  occupied 
as  a  dwelling  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Willis. 

WILBRAHAM  LIBRARY 

Evidently  individuals  bought  shares  in  the  same.  Solomon 
Warriner,  Librarian.  I  find  13  receipts,  now  in  possession  of 
C.  S.  Merrick,  of  some  who  sold  their  shares  to  others. 

(Copies  of  a  few) 
"January  ^^«  7—1782 

"To  the  Libryarian  of  the  Libry  Company  of  the  town  of 


144  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Wilbraham   or  any   others   that  itt  may   Conserne   this  may 

Sertify  that  I  have  Sold  to  L^  Jonathan  Mirick  my  Rite  In  S'' 

Libry  I  therefore  Desire  you  to  Deale  out  to  him  as  you  would 

to  me  this  from  yours  -r,,.  t..      ,      ,, 

•^  Phmeas  Newton 

"This  is  to  Sertify  that  I  have  sold  my  Wright  in  the  Libery 
to  Mr  Daniel  Hungerfoard  the  Bearer  of  these  Lines;  I  desire 
you  would  Discord  my  name  and  Record  his  in  the  Room 
thereof  in  so  doing  you  will  Oblige 

yours  &c Isaac  Colton 

"Wilbraham  November  the  16'^  1789 

"To  Mr.  Solomon  Warriner  Libarien" 

"Springfield  May  P'  1786 

"To  the  Library  Company  of  the  Town  of  Wilbraham 
Gent"  I  beg  to  inform  you,  that  at  the  time  of  the  last  meeting 
when  I  should  have  Carried  my  book  in,  the  going  was  so  bad 
on  account  of  Crust  upon  the  snow  that  it  was  almost  impos- 
sible to  have  got  there  without  going  four  or  five  miles  round 
and  the  Same  reason  may  (be)  given  for  the  other  book  which 
I  have  sent  with  mine  draw'*  by  John  Passo  (?)  on  Justin 
Cooley  right,  I  suppose,  and  as  the  Books  are  not  very  Valuable 
I  suppose  it  was  no  great  damage.  I  shall  take  it  Very  kindly 
if  the  meeting  will  excuse  me  &  except  the  Books  now 

"In  so  doing  Gent"  vou  will  much  oblige  your  most  obedient 
&  hum"  Ser' 

John  H  or  ton" 

"I  do  here  By  Convey  unto  Gains  Brewer  one  Wright  of  my 
Libery  in  Wilbraham ;  &  have  Rec'*  my  pay  and  I  would  have 
you  know?  accordinglv  to  Solomon  Warriner  Libreian 

' '  Springfield  March'  13,1789 

Joel  Day" 
"Somers  Sept  5  1781 

"These  Certifie  all  whom  It  may  Concern  that  Mr.  Charles 
Sheldon  of  Somers  hath  purchased  my  Interest  In  Wilbraham 
Library. 

Sam"  Allis" 

SONG  OF  THE  HOE 

In  the  Stebbins  History,  at  the  foot  of  page  301,  it  says; 
"Josiah  Langdon  was  a  man  of  literary  taste,  and  wrote  con- 
siderable poetry  in  his  day.     His  'Song  of  the  Hoe'  is  the  best 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  145 

known."    I  am  informed  that  the  origin  of  the  story  was  about 
as  follows: 

Stephen  Newell,  grandfather  of  Alonzo  B.  Newell,  of  the 
present  town  of  Hampden,  loaned  a  hoe  to  one  of  his  neighbors, 
who  did  not  return  it  for  more  than  a  year,  and  not  until  he 
had  been  repeatedly  requested  to  do  so.  He  finally  brought  it 
back,  in  the  middle  of  a  summer  night,  and  placed  the  hoe 
against  the  kitchen  door,  with  the  handle  resting  on  the  door- 
step. When  Mr.  Newell  opened  the  door  in  the  morning,  the 
hoe,  broken  and  worthless,  fell  in  upon  the  kitchen  floor.  I 
have  secured  a  copy  of  the  "Song"  and  insert  it  here. 

THE  OLD  HOE— AN  EPIGRAM 

Good  morning.  Dear  Master,  you  see  I  am  come, 
'Twas  late  in  the  evening  before  I  got  home, 
I  found  you  were  sleeping — I  tho't  I'd  not  wake  you 
For  fear  you  would  think  twas  a  Sheriff  to  take  you. 

So  here  I've  been  standing  these  five  hours  or  more. 
This  long  Summer  evening — -to  enter  your  door. 
Long  time  I've  been  missing,  but  now  I  return, 
And  for  my  misconduct  I  heartily  mourn. 

Now  into  your  favor  if  you'll  receive  me, 
I'll  always  prove  faithful  and  constant  to  thee. 
Like  the  hound  in  the  fable  my  teeth  are  worn  out. 
Therefore  don't  correct  me  for  this  saucy  bout. 

But  remember  when  young,  I  hoed  all  your  com. 
You  ne'er  had  a  better  hoe  since  you  were  bom. 
You've  often  enquired  who  hoed  with  me  last, 
But  no  one  remembered  when  since  it  was  past. 

The  man  whom  you  lent  me  to  used  me  so  bad, 
I  ran  away  from  him  because  I  was  mad. 
He  did  so  much  more  and  he  hoed  with  me  faster. 
Than  e'er  I  was  used  to  when  with  my  old  Master. 

That  I  was  resolved  to  throw  off  my  chain. 
And  live  'long  with  my  good  old  Master  again; 
For  when  you  hoed  with  me  the  most  that  I  did 
Was  to  serve  as  a  shore  to  prop  up  your  head. 


146  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

So  like  the  hound  in  the  fable  my  teeth  are  worn  out. 
Therefore  don't  correct  me  for  this  saucy  bout; 
For  when  I  was  young  I  hoed  all  your  corn 
You  ne'er  had  a  better  hoe  since  you  were  bom. 
I  came  from  the  Eastward  you  very  well  know. 
So 

I  am  your  Servant 

An  Old  Broken  Hoe. 
My  skulking  place 
a  thicket  of  weeds 
near  Hovel  Lane 
1791 

To  show  some  of  the  business  done  in  ancient  days  I  insert 
the  following. 
\)  Copied  from  papers  of  Col.  John  Bliss,  Esq.,  of  South  Wil- 

braham.   Now  in  possession  of  Robert  O.  Morris  of  Springfield. 

"To  John  Bliss  Esq.  one  of  the  Justicies  of  the  Peace  within 
and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire. 

"Complains  upon  oath  Aaron  Bliss  of  Monson  a  miner  Son 
of  Jacob  Bliss  Did  on  the  thirteenth  Day  of  Febuary  at  his 
Dwelling  Did  utter  one  Prophane  oath  by  saying  I  wont  (?)  by 
God  I  will  not  go  ought  and  Amos  Beebe  of  Monson  at  the 
same  time  said  by  God  i  will  not  go  out  all  which  is  Contrary 
to  Law  and  a  gainst  the  Peace  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the 
Laws  of  the  same  Wherefore  the  Sai'^  Aaron  Bliss  Prays  that 
the  sai'*  Oliver  Bliss  and  Amos  Beebe  may  be  apprehended  and 
held  to  answer  to  Sai''  Complaint  and  delt  with  (in)  relation  to 
the  same  as  to  Law  and  Justice  shall  appertain  Dated  at 
Wilbraham  the  Seventh  Day  of  March  1798     Aaron  Bliss" 

"Hampshire  S.S.  The  above  named  Aaron  Bliss  made  oath 
to  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  Complaint  this  7  day  of  March 

John  Bliss  Jus^  Peace." 

"March  9  1798  then  Rec^  of  Jacob  Bliss  66  Cents  as  a  fine 
of  his  son  oliver  for  one  Prophane  oath 

March  9  1798  then  Rec'^  of  Amos  Beebe  a  fine  of  sixty  six 
Cents  for  one  Prophane  oath  uttered  by  him 

John  Bliss  Jus'  Peace" 

"The  Town  of  Wilbraham  to  John  Bliss.  Dr.  for  Granting  a 
Warrant  to  Carrving  Abigal  Jones  a  poor  Girl  to  Springfield 
£0-2-0 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  147 

Do.  to  Giving  the  Selectmen  their  Oath  to  a  Pay  Rool  0-1-0 
Do.  to  Giving  a  Warrant  to  Carry  Merriam  Wright  a  Poor 
Girl  to  Ludlow  at  the  request  of  the  Selectmen 
Wilbraham  Feb  5-1784.     John  BHss 
A  true  account  Erors  Excepted." 

' '  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 

to  the  Selectmen  of  Wilbraham  Dr. 

November  24  1780  and  Jan.  8  1781 

To  14  Shirts  at  £40  Each  £560-  0-0 

To  25  Pair  of  Stockings  at  £24  £600-  0-0 

To  22  Pair  of  Shows  at  £40  Each  £880-  0-0 

Delivered  to  Mr  Luke  Bliss  of  Springfield  

for  the  Continental  army  for  which  we  2040-  0-0 
have  Mr  Bliss  receipt 

Transport  ten  miles  £30-  0-0 
Each  of  us  one   Day  a   Collecting  vSai'^ 

Articles  105-  0-0 


2175-  0-0 


I  got  Reuben  Chase  Receipt  allowed  for 

Sixty  Seven  Pounds  ten  Shillings  £67-10-0 

The  account  of  Mr  Shaw's  brought  to  this 

Page  is  one  Hundred  three  pounds  ten 

Shillings  £103-10-0 


£2346-  0-0 


Got  an  order  on  Ezekel  Russel  from  the 
treasurer  for  the  money ' ' 

(Probably  for  work  on  Meeting  House,  South  Parish). 

"To  Mr.  Aaron  Stebbins  3'"'^  Constable  for  Wilbraham 
Sir.     Plese  to  pay  to  the  several  Persons  hereafter  Named 
the  Sums  afixt  to  each  of  their  names 
Viz 

to  Robert  Russel 

to  Robert  vSessions 

to  Aaron  Stebbins  2"^ 

to  Aaron  Stebbins 

to  Abner  Chapin 

to  Leu*^  Samuel  Sexton 

to  Moses  Stebbins 


£0 

10 

0 

:0 

0 

5 

3 

:0 

1 

0 

10 

:0 

0 

3 

6 

:0 

0 

3 

6 

:0 

0 

3 

6 

:0 

0 

5 

0 

:0 

2 

11 

7 

:0 

148  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

and  their  Receit  Shall  Discharge  you  So  much  on  the  ministry 
Rate   Committid  to   you   to   Collect —     Per  me   David   Burt 
Parish  Treasurer 
Wilbraham  March  26"^  1785" 

"  1789  Paid  bill  of  William  King  Jr.  7  pounds  10  shillings  for 
work  making  Meeting  House  Doors." 

"May  13'h  1785 

"Chileab  Brainard  Merrick,  yeoman,  Samuel  Fisk  Merrick 
Gentleman,  and  Abigal  Merrick  widow,  all  of  Wilbraham 
Executors  of  the  Will  of  Noah  Merrick,  had  an  execution 
against  John  Davison  of  Monson  for  1  pound  18  shillings 
Lawful  Money.     (No  account  of  the  property  attatched.) " 

"1789  Samuel  Fisk  Merrick  Gentleman  of  Wilbraham,  got 
out  an  attatchment  for  40  Shillings  against  Benjamin  Swet- 
land,  yeoman  of  Longmeadow  Asaph  King  Dep.  Sher.  attatched 
1  chair,    costs  10  Shillings  8  pence." 

"1793  Soloman  Warriner,  yeoman  brought  suit  against 
Jesse  Warriner  yeoman,  for  a  note  of  10s,  6P. 

Asaph  King  Dep.  Sher.  attatched  1  hat." 

"Deposition  of  Joseph  Abit 

" testifies  and  says  that  on  or  about  the  first  Day  of 

March  1790  I  was  in  Company  with  Mr  John  Shearrer  Jr.  of 
said  Palmer  at  Wilbraham  and  he  had  his  team  and  sled  with 
him  and  as  we  ware  Comming  by  Mr  Thomas  Hayls  we  made 
a  Little  stop  and  s'^  Hail  come  to  the  Sled  and  s^  why  here  you 
have  got  my  Chain  and  then  the  S^  Shearrer  s"^  is  that  your 
chain  and  the  S<^  Hale  s^  yes  this  is  my  chain  &  the  very  Chain 
that  I  Lent  to  Noah  Shearerr  &  I  never  could  git  it  Before  & 
now  I  mean  to  keep  it  &  the  S*^  Hale  takes  the  Chain  from  the 
Sled  and  said  the  Next  time  I  lend  him  a  chain  I  ges  he  will 
bring  it  home  without  my  sending  for  it  so  often  as  I  have  for 
this  one  so  he  took  the  Chain  away  &  carried  it  into  the  Black- 
smith Shop. 

"(signed)  Joseph  Abbott.  Jan.  15  1791 
(acknowledged  before  a  Justice.)  " 

"Wilbraham  April  10'*^  1794 

"To  John  Bliss  ( &c)  (condensed) 

John  Williams — yeoman  Complains — that  Phebe  Barton — 
Spinster,  on  the  9""  day  of  March,  being  Lords  Day,  did  with 
voice  and  arms,  within  the  walls  of  a  House  of  Public  worship, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  149 

then  being  in  the  time  of  Public  worship,  then  and  there 
behave  Rudely  &  indecently,  to  the  great  disturbance  of  your 
complainant  &  divers  good  subjects  of  the  Commonwealth." 
The  Constable  directed  to  aprehend  the  body  of  the  S'^  Phebe 
Barton  to  answer  to  the  Complaint  and  to  summon  Lydia 
Willey,  Pamell  Patterson  &  Fanny  Chaffee  as  witnesses. 

FIRST  CHURCH  HISTORY  FROM  1794 

In  the  year  1794,  the  atmosphere  of  Wilbraham  seems  to 
have  been  unusually  charged  with  religious  activity  and  zeal. 
In  that  year  eight  parish  meetings  were  held  by  the  first  parish, 
to  devise  ways  and  means  for  moving  the  meeting  house  down 
from  its  high  elevation  on  Wigwam  Hill,  into  the  village.  For 
twelve  years  they  had  wrestled  with  the  question  of  finding  a 
location  for  it  that  would  be  acceptable  to  all.  At  different 
parish  meetings  during  those  twelve  years,  they  had  voted  to 
move,  and  not  to  move;  to  repair;  to  build,  to  locate  on 
"David  Warriner's  land  east  side  of  the  road  (about  opposite 
the  north  end  of  'Rich  Hall');  to  move  the  meeting-house  on 
Charles  Brewer's  lot ;  ....  to  set  it  on  the  south  side  of  Joseph 
Saxton's  lot;  in  the  centre  of  the  street.''  (Probably  a  little  south 
of  the  present  road  leading  up  to  the  Woodland  Dell  Cemetery.) 
But,  on  April  18th,  1794,  they  "Voted  that  the  Committee 
heretofore  appointed  to  purchase  a  Place  to  set  the  Meeting 
House  on  be  requested  to  proceed  in  purchasing  the  land  of 
Jonathan  Merrick — on  behalf  of  the  Parish  for  £33."  And 
Gideon  Burt,  Joseph  Sexton,  Chileab  Merrick,  Reuben  Sikes, 
David  Bliss,  Stephen  Cadwell,  and  Ebenezer  Cadwell  were 
chosen  a  committee  "to  contract  for  the  moving  of  the  Meeting 
House  into  the  Street  in  this  by  themselves  or  hiring  it  done." 

The  last  parish  meeting,  held  in  the  meeting  house  on  Wig- 
wam Hill,  was  on  April  18th,  1794.  The  next  meeting,  on  May 
22,  1794,  was  held  "at  the  School  House  near  W""  Brewers." 
On  August  29th,  "at  the  School  House  in  the  Street,"  and  on 
September  11th  "at  the  School  House  near  the  Meeting  House." 
I  have  been  told  that  the  building  was  left  in  the  highway,  a 
little  south  of  the  road  leading  up  to  the  Dell  Cemetery,  for 


150  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

two  or  three  weeks,  and  that  several  members  of  the  parish 
desired  that  it  should  remain  there.  (Perhaps  this  may  account 
for  the  unusual  width  of  our  main  street  at  that  point.)  But, 
probably,  late  in  August  or  the  first  of  September,  1794,  it  was 
moved  on  to  the  ground  where  the  Congregational  meeting 
house  has  since  stood. 

The  parish  meetings  of  October  24  and  November  3d  in  the 
year  1794,  were  also  held  at  the  schoolhouse,  which  was  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  meeting  house. 

At  the  meeting  November  3d,  1794,  the  meeting  house  was 
new  seated.  The  names  of  104  men  and  of  22  women,  some  of 
whom  were  widows,  are  given  as  being  seated  in  the  body  of 
the  house. 

In  the  gallery  there  were  seated,  49  young  men  and  52  young 
women,  whose  names  are  given.  Four  of  the  young  women 
were  named  Nabby,  five  Polly,  and  three  Patty.  Among  the 
young  men  was  seated  "Black  man  Cadwell." 

If  we  assume  that  there  were  100  wives  seated  with  their 
husbands,  there  would  be  about  325  persons  in  all.  The  next 
parish  meeting  was  held  at  the  meeting  house  on  January  26th, 
1795,  and  £413  was  "voted  and  granted  for  the  purpose  of 
defraying  the  expenses  of  moving  repairing  and  building  the 
Meeting  House  and  the  Land  on  which  it  stands  ....  and  all 
votes  and  grants  heretofore  made  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  be 
reconsidered." 

The  Stebbins  History  says:  "The  tabernacle  of  the  Lord  is 
moved  down  from  Wigwam  Hill  into  the  street  with  as  much 
joy  to  all  beholders  as  David  moved  the  ark  of  the  Lord  from 
the  house  of  Obed  Edom  into  Jerusalem." 

And  today,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  years  afterwards,  we 
can  rejoice  that  one  of  the  causes  of  disturbance  and  division 
among  the  throngs  that  went  up  to  the  sanctuary  on  sabbath 
days,  was  at  last  removed  out  of  the  way. 

In  those  early  days  it  was  the  practice  to  raise  money  for 
church  expenses  by  assessing  a  tax  on  the  property  of  the 
members,  and  while  there  was  but  one  church  here,  the  results 
were  fairly   satisfactory.      But   as   other  denominations  were 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  151 

formed,  their  members  objected  to  paying  the  tax,  and  the 
parish  passed  many  votes,  at  different  times,  granting  to  the 
Methodists  and  Baptists  the  taxes  assessed  against  them.  The 
first  record  that  I  have  found  is  of  the  parish  meeting  held 
March  14th,  1786. 

"Granted  to  Collector  Ebenezer  Cadwell  as  follows; 
Sam"  Torreys  Rat(e)—  £0-2-11-2 

Peter  Walbridge  Dito—  0-2-11-2 

Moses  Graves      Do  —  0-3-  1- 

Jon^Sikes  Do  —  0-2-11-2" 

In  1796,  the  parish  granted  the  following  credits  to  the 
treasurer. 

"To  forberance  of  the  Methodist  taxes  in  Sam"  Warner  Jr. 
hands  £5-9-11 

To  forberance  of  the  babtist  taxes  in  Converse  Cutlers 
hands  £71-12-6 

To  Comi"*"^  order  for  the  forbereance  of  babtist  taxes  in 
Luther  Kilbons  hands  £7-16-1-2" 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  first  parish  were  over-zealous  in 
collecting  taxes  from  the  members  of  other  denominations, 
provided  they  were  assured  that  they  really  did  attend  other 
services.  In  1794,  the  assessors  were  instructed  to  leave 
twenty-four  different  persons,  whose  names  are  given,  out  of 
the  tax  list. 

Notwithstanding  this  clemency,  there  were  still  some  dis- 
senters and  dissatisfied  ones,  and  evidently  the  following  meet- 
ing was  called  by  some  of  that  class. 

(Note.  The  law  provides  that  if  the  Selectmen  of  a  town,  or 
the  proper  committee  of  a  Religious  Society,  "  unreasonablly 
refuse"  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  town,  or  society,  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  may  call  such  a  meeting,  upon  the  petition  of  a 
specified  number  of  voters  of  such  town  or  society.  Within  my 
recollection,  a  meeting  of  the  town  of  Wilbraham  was  called  in 
that  way.)  Apparently  the  parish  committee  had  refused  to 
call  a  meeting  of  the  first  parish  when  requested  so  to  do,  and 


152  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

one  was  called  by  Phineas  vStebbins,  Justice  of  the  Peace.    The 
Warrant  for  the  meeting  is  directed  as  follows: 

"Hampshire  vS.  vS.  to  the  Collector  of  the  North  Parish  of  the 
town  of  Wilbraham,  or  to  Justin  Stebbins  one  of  the  Petitioners 
of  this  Meeting  or  Eyther  of  them  (etc.)  that  they  meet  and 
assemble  at  the  Methodist  Meeting  house  in  S^  Parish  on  the 
third  day  of  February  1796  (etc.) 

"Art.  2,  to  see  if  the  Parish  will  grant  to  the  Methodists  their 
tax  for  moving  and  Building  the  Meeting  House  now  standing 
a  little  south  of  Will""  Brewers  and  their  tax  for  the  Support  of 
Preaching  in  S*^  House  in  Converse  Cutlers  hands  and  to  order 
the  treasurer  to  Pay  Back  all  the  moneys  Collected  on  S^  tax 
to  the  Persons  of  whom  Collected. 

"Art.  3. 
"to  see  if  the  Parish  will  Call  on  the  Baptist  for  their  taxes  now 
in  the  Collectors  hands. 

"Art.  5**^'y 
"to  see  if  the  Parish  will  grant  an  order  that  the  moneys  now 
taxed  upon  the  Methodists  &  Baptists  shall  be  appropriated  to 
Building  and  Repairing  their  Respective  Meeting  Houses  if 
the  S*^  Parish  shall  not  Grant  the  Second  article  in  this  War- 
rant." 

The    meeting   was   warned,    not    by  the  collector    of    the 

parish,    as   customary,    but    by   one   of   the    petitioners   and 

signed, 

"P''  Me  Justin  Stebbins." 

Notwithstanding  this  meeting  was  called  to  meet  at  the 
Methodist  meeting  house,  the  members  of  the  North  Parish 
were  not  caught  napping,  but  gathered  in  such  numbers  that 
they  were  able  to  control  the  meeting,  for  one  of  their  strongest 
members,  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick,  was  chosen  moderator. 

Under  Article  2,  they  "Voted  and  Granted  to  Gains  Brewer 
two  Dollars  for  materials  for  the  Steeple  of  the  Meeting  House 
which  he  once  gave  to  the  Parish." 

Also,  "Voted  and  Granted  to  John  Grain  (?)  his  taxes  in 
Converse  Cutlers  hands  to  Collect 1£-13-." 

Then,  "Voted  S^^  Meeting  be  Disolvcd. 

Reuben  Sikes  Parish  Clerk." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  153 

On  April  11,  1809,  the  parish  "Voted  that  the  Baptists  and 
Methodists  in  this  Parish  who  when  able  with  their  families 
worship  in  their  own  way  shall  in  future  be  left  out  of  the 
Parish  Tax  Bills,  Provided  they  attempt  not  to  act  in  our  parish 
meetings,  and  those  who  of  that  description  worship  thus,  but 
their  families  with  us,  they  shall  be  taxed  with  others,  but  half 
their  taxes  shall  be  abated." 

That  would  seem  to  have  been  a  fair  settlement  of  the 
troublesome  question  which  had  disturbed  them  for  many 
years.  On  February  11,  1794,  Rev.  Joseph  Lathrop,  D.D.,  of 
West  Springfield,  the  "moderate  Calvinist,"  and  peacemaker 
generally,  preached  a  most  acceptable  sermon  to  the  church, 
probably  in  the  interest  of  harmony  among  them.  At  the  parish 
meeting,  three  days  later,  or,  on  February  14,  1794,  the  parish 
chose  a  committee  to  "present  to  Joseph  Lathrop  D.D.  the 
thanks  of  this  Parish  for  his  Ingenious  &  pertinent  sermon 
delivered  on  the  11'^''  instant,  and  request  a  copy  for  the  Press 
— and  have  the  same  printed  at  the  expense  of  the  Parish  and 
deliver  one  Book  to  each  Family  in  the  Parish  and  a  handsome 
Number  to  the  Author  ....  to  Defray  the  expense  of  printing 
out  of  sale  of  the  rest."  In  a  collection  of  several  sermons  and 
other  pamphlets,  owned  by  G.  S.  Atchinson  of  West  Street,  I 
have  found  a  copy  of  that  sermon,  and  insert  a  few  extracts, 
and  the  title  page. 


154  The  History  of  Wilbraham 


THE 

FURTHERANCE     OF     THE     GOSPEL 

ILLUSTRATED 

IN   A 

SERMON 

PREACHED  IN  THE 

North  Parish  of  Wilbraham 

FEBRUARY  11,  1794. 

On  Occasion  of  the  DISMISSION  of  the 

Rev.  JOSEPH  WILLARD. 

From  his  Pastoral  relation  to  the  CHURCH  and 
SOCIETY  in  that  place. 


By  JOSEPH  LATHROP,  D.D. 

PASTOR  or  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  IN  WEST  SPRINGFIELD 


r^i 


Printed  at  Springfield,   Massachusetts, 

By  JAMES  R.  HUTCHINS, 

For  a  Church  and  Society  in 
Wilbraham 


MDCCXCIV 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  155 

The  Furtherance  of  the  Gospel,  &c. 

PHILIPPIANS  1  :  12. 
But  I  WOULD  ye  should  understand,  bretheren, 

THAT  THE  THINGS  WHICH  HAPPENED  UNTO  ME, 
HAVE  FALLEN  OUT  RATHER  UNTO  THE  FURTHER- 
ANCE OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

Near  the  close  of  the  sermon  Dr.  Lathrop  said: 

"Even  infidelity  has  been  made  to  subserve  the  cause  of 
Christianity.  .  .  . : : 

' '  Disputes  and  divisions  among  christians  are  on  many 
accounts,  unhappy.  They  are  found,  however,  to  answer  some 
valuable  purposes.  .  .  .  YOU,  my  brother,  who  are  now  taking 
your  affectionate  leave  of  the  people  of  your  late  charge,  will 
find  comfort  in  the  application  of  this  thought. 

"YOU  here  entered  on  your  ministerial  work  with  agreeable 
prospects:  But  by  the  hand  of  providence  you  have,  for 
months  past,  been  taken  off  from  your  pubhck  labours.  In 
the  meantime,  you  have  seen  your  people  surrounded  with 
dangers,  and  embarrassed  with  difficulties,  of  which  you  could 
only  stand  an  anxious  spectator.  I  can  fully  realize  your  pain- 
ful sensations,  while  you  have  looked  out  and  beheld  your 
flock,  wandering  for  want  of  the  shepherd's  care,  and  felt  your- 
self unable  to  watch  over  them,  and  provide  for  them  suitable 
pasture. 

"THE  consideration  of  your  health,  and  of  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances of  your  people,  has  led  you  to  conclude,  that  your 
removal  from  them  is  a  step  pointed  out  in  providence:  And 
they  have  concurred  in  the  sentiment 

"WHILE  we  lament  your  removal  from  this  people,  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  find  that  you  stand  well  in  their  affection  and 
esteem  and  they  in  yours.  You  will  remember,  and  pray  for 
them  still.  May  God  mark  your  path,  and  guide  your  future 
steps;  may  he  restore  your  health,  and  appoint  your  lot  in  a 
pleasant  place;  may  he  make  you  extensively  useful  in  life, 
and  finally  admit  you  to  take  a  distinguished  place  among  his 
good  and  faithful  servants. 

"AND  you,  my  brethren  will  also  suffer  a  word  of  exhorta- 
tion. 


156  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"WE  take  a  sensible  share  with  you  in  the  painful  feelings  of 
this  day. 

"THE  long  vacancy,  which  followed  the  death  of  your 
former  pastor/  seemed  happily  supplied  in  this  his  successor. 
But  the  prospect  is  now  shaded.  You  are  again  exposed  to  the 
dangers  of  a  vacancy,  at  a  time  too,  when  the  great  work  of 
building  a  house  of  worship  is  before  you,  and  unhappy  divisions 
have  taken  place  among  you.  We  trust,  however,  it  is  the 
father's  good  pleasure  to  continue  among  you  his  kingdom. 
The  things  which  have  befallen  you  he  can  overrule  to  the 
promotion  of  the  gospel.  .  .  . 

"YOU  will  not  be  content,  that  the  stated  ministry  of  the 
word  should  be  long  discontinued.  You  will  take  measures  for 
the  resettlement  of  it,  as  soon  as  prudence  shall  direct.  In  the 
meantime,  you  will  endeavour  to  enjoy  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel,  and  will  be  diligent  in  your  attendance  upon  it 

"YOU  will  treat  with  candour  and  tenderness  those  of  your 
brethren,  who  have  lately  withdrawn  from  you.  They  took  a 
hasty  step  in  an  hour  of  temptation.  On  calm  reflection,  it  is 
hoped,  they  will  feel  their  obligation  to  return,  and  walk  hand 
in  hand  with  you.  Let  your  behaviour  toward  them  be  kind 
and  friendly,  and  your  language  soft  and  winning.  Walk  in 
wisdom  and  meekness,  considering  yourselves,  lest  ye  also  be 
tempted. 

"ON  this  head  I  cannot  more  pertinently  address  you,  than 
in  the  words  of  the  Rev.  JOHN  WESLEY  whose  name,  I 
suppose,  you  have  often  heard  mentioned  of  late.  '  Beware  of 
schisms — of  making  a  rent  in  the  church  of  Christ.  Inward 
disunion  is  the  root  of  all  contention,  and  every  outward 
separation.  Beware  of  everything  tending  thereto.  Beware 
of  a  dividing  spirit — shun  whatever  has  the  least  aspect  that  way. 
Say  not,  ''This  is  my  preacher — the  best  preacher y  This  tends 
to  foment  division.  Suffer  not  one  thought  of  separating  from 
your  brethren.    Beware  of  tempting  others  to  separate  from  you.' 

"  IT  is  now  with  you  a  critical  time.  The  shepherd  is  leaving 
you.  If  after  his  departure  grievous  wolves  should  enter  in 
among  you,  not  sparing  the  flock;  yet  of  your  ownselves  let 
none  arise,  speaking  perverse  things,  to  draw  away  disciples 
after  them;  but  watch  in  all  things;  and  remember,  that  you 
have  been  this  day  warned.  Imitate  the  commendable  example 
of  the  church  of  Ephesus,  to  whom  Christ  says,  'I  know  thy 


'Rev.  Noah  Merrick — who  was  born  August,   1711,  ordained  June,   1741, — died  De- 
cember 22,  1776,  being  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age,  and  36th  of  his  ministry. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  157 

works  and  thy  labour  and  thy  patience,  and  how  thou  canst 
not  bear  them  who  are  evil,  and  hast  tried  them  who  say,  they 
are  Apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast  found  them  liars.'  Beware 
that  ye  fall  not  under  Christ's  censure  on  the  church  in  Thya- 
tira,  that  she  strffered  some  who  falsely  called  themselves 
prophets,  to  teach,  and  to  seduce  his  servants.  If  you  ask,  how 
shall  we  prevent  such  from  teaching  and  seducing?  I  answer 
in  the  words  of  the  Apostle,  AVOID  THEM.  .  .  .  Never  lay 
great  weight  upon  small  things,  nor  contend  about  trifles.  Be 
united  in  pursuing  the  great  things  of  religion;  and  then,  in 
circumstantial  matters,  you  will  be  disposed  to  please,  each  one 
his  neighbour  to  edification.  And  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  for 
the  Lord  Jesus'  sake,  and  for  the  love  of  the  Spirit,  that  you 
strive  together  in  your  prayers  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel 
among  yourselves,  in  the  churches  around  you,  and,  through 
the  world.  And  may  the  God  of  all  grace,  who  hath  called  us 
to  his  eternal  glory  by  Jesus  Christ,  make  you  perfect, 
strengthen,  stablish,  and  settle  you.  To  him  be  glory  and 
dominion,  for  ever  and  ever  AMEN. 

On  April  19th,  1796,  the  parish  "voted  to  lease  the  pews  in 
the  Meeting  House  for  the  term  of  one  year  and  the  money 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel." 

This  is  the  first  record  that  I  have  found  of  any  attempt  to 
raise  money  by  a  system  which  has  been  followed  most  of  the 
time  since.  April  16,  1798,  Jason  Chapin,  Capt.  James  Shaw 
and  Doctor  Samuel  F.  Merrick  were  chosen  "a  committee  to 
purchase  a  Bell,"  and  $200.00  was  appropriated  for  that  pur- 
pose. But  the  bell  was  not  purchased  at  that  time,  for  there  is 
an  article  in  the  warrant  for  the  meeting  held  April  14th,  1800, 
"to  grant  money  for  the  use  of  purchasing  a  church  Bell." 
But  in  1802,  a  church  bell  was  purchased  and  hung,  and  then, 
the  first  Sabbath  bell  of  the  mountains  sounded  its  welcome  call 
to  the  willing  worshipers,  as  they  wended  their  way  from  the 
banks  of  the  Chicopee  on  the  north  and  the  southerly  bounds  of 
the  parish  on  the  south,  from  far  "Burch  Run"  and  chilling 
Rattlesnake  Peak  on  the  east,  and  the  wonderful  wilds  of 
"World's  End  Meadow"  on  the  west.  All  heard  the  call  to 
come  up  and  worship  at  the  house  of  the  Lord  on  every  Sabbath 
day,    and   we    may    feel    sure    that    their   steps   were    lighter 


158  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

and  their  hearts  felt  brighter  as  they  heard  and  heeded  the 
call. 

And  the  very  next  year  they  voted  and  granted  $3.00  "to 
purchase  a  Bass  Viol."  And  a  few  years  later,  they  voted 
"$45.00  to  hire  a  teacher  of  Psalmody  among  us." 

In  1807,  they  "Granted  to  Dan'  Ladd,  Jr.  for  playing  the 
violin  one  year,  $5.00,"  and  in  1809  they  "Voted  to  raise  $5.00 
for  to  support  the  bass  Viol." 

In  1805,  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  parish  "to  fence  the 
burying  ground  near  the  Street,"  and  at  the  same  meeting, 
"Duty  Partridge,  Ebenezer  Cadwell  and  Frederick  Stebbins 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  fence  the  burying  ground  over  the 
Mountain,"  and  $120.00  was  appropriated  for  the  work,  and  at 
the  meeting  held  April  13,  1807,  $25.00  was  "Granted  for 
painting  Burying  Yard  fence." 

It  appears  from  the  above  votes,  that  the  town  had  not 
assumed  charge  of  the  burying  grounds  at  that  time.  In  this 
connection  it  may  be  of  interest  to  copy  a  vote  passed  Decem- 
ber 2,  1782.  "Voted  that  Jonathan  Mirick  Solomon  Warriner 
Noah  Warriner  be  a  Commitee  to  fence  the  burying  yard  with 
Stone  &  with  as  much  land  as  they  think  proper  then  voted  and 
Granted  £15  -.0  :  0  to  fence  the  burying  yard.  Voted  this  sum 
be  assest  on  the  poles  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
parish  ....  and  each  person  be  allowed  to  work  out  his  rate 
as  they  Do  at  highways." 

About  two  weeks  later,  on  December  17,  1782,  they  "Voted 
&  reconsidered  a  vote  past  2  December  1782  for  fenceing 
the  Burying  yard  with  Stone  &  made  the  same  nul  and 
void." 

The  yard  to  which  most  of  these  votes  refer,  is  the  one  now 
called  The  Deacon  Adams  Cemetery,  and  the  amount  of  land 
which  the  committee  thought  "proper,"  can  be  very  readily 
traced  there  today.  The  original  lot  was  enlarged  in  1876  by 
an  addition  on  the  east  side,  and  again  in  1896  by  a  much  larger 
addition  on  the  north. 

A  hearse  house  stood  at  the  southeast  comer  of  the  original 
lot  for  many  years,  but  was  removed  about  1871,  and  is  now 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  159 

used  for  the  storage  of  lumber  at  the  carriage  shop  near  the 
north  edge  of  our  centre  village. 

There  is  one  other  matter  relating  to  this  cemetery  which 
perhaps  ought  to  be  mentioned.  About  1859,  a  large  company 
of  the  men  of  the  town  gathered  there  one  day,  for  the  purpose 
of  cutting  the  brush,  improving  the  yard  and  making  a  general 
clean-up  of  the  grounds.  In  carrying  out  that  "improvement," 
some  of  the  headstones,  as  well  as  the  footstones,  along  the 
southerly  side  of  the  yard,  were  moved  a  few  inches,  or  two  or 
three  feet,  to  the  north  or  south,  as  might  be  necessary,  in  order 
to  bring  them  into  line  with  the  others.  I,  a  boy,  was  there  at 
the  time  and  assisted  in  some  of  the  work.  I  do  not  think  any 
of  the  stones  were  moved  entirely  off  the  grave  to  which  they 
belonged,  or  that  any  of  them  were  moved  to  the  east  or  west, 
but  some  of  them  are  now  from  a  few  inches  to  two  or 
three  feet,  north  or  south  of  where  they  were  originally 
placed. 

There  are  many  things  of  much  interest  in  this  ancient  bury- 
ing ground : 

The  grave  of  Ehzabeth  Cockril,  who  died  April  26th,  1741, 
and  who  was  "y^  first  person  y'  was  Bured  in  y*^  Mountains;" 

The  grave  of  Timothy  Merrick  who  died  from  the  bite  of  a 
rattlesnake  August  7,  1761; 

The  table  monument  that  marks  the  resting  place  of  "The 
Revened  and  Worthy  NOAH  MERICK,"  who  died  "Dec.  y^ 
22,  A.D.  1776,"  and  of  "Abigail  his  wife,  who  died  Sep.  12,  1807, 
in  the  98'^  year  of  her  age;" 

Also  another  table  monument  "In  Memory  of  Deacon 
Nathaniel  Warriner,  who  died  Jan^^  10:  1780  In  his  77'^ 
year. ' ' 

And  the  three  stones  which  re-tell  the  tragedy  of  Nine  Mile 
Pond,  on  April  29th,  1799.  These,  and  many  others  there, 
impel  us  to  regard  with  solemn  reverence  that  consecrated 
"God's- Acre." 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  copy  some  of  the  parish  expenses 
about  that  time. 


160  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

In  1803,  $2.00  was  granted  to  paint  the  hangings  of  the  Bell. 
In  1804,  "Granted  Reuben  Colton  $3.50  for  joiner  work  for  the 
Bell." 

In  1806,  "Voted  Gains  Brewer  66  cents  for  repairing  the 
Bell."  In  1813,  "Paid  Sally  Bliss  $3.00  for  sweeping  the 
Meeting  House  one  year."  In  the  same  year,  "Paid  Edward 
Stebbins  $1.50  for  Ringing  the  Bell  seven  weeks." 

In  1825,  "Paid  Edwin  Crocker  for  ringing  the  bell  and 
sweeping  the  Meeting  House  for  one  year  $8.50.  In  1815,  they 
"Voted  $20.00  for  tythingmen." 

The  Stebbins  history  says:  "In  1824,  an  attempt  was  made 
by  the  town  to  obtain  possession  of  the  'Minister  Money,' 
especially  that  portion  of  it  realized  by  the  sale  of  the  '  Ministry 
Lot.'  It  was  unsuccessful,  as  it  should  have  been,  and  the  fund 
remains  in  the  possession  of  the  two  parishes  to  this  day."  I 
find  from  the  parish  records  that  the  first  action  seems  to  have 
been  commenced  by  the  parish.  On  April  13,  1818,  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  by  the  parish  "to  request  the  Town  to 
deliver  up  to  the  Parish  their  proportion  of  the  land  loan  money 
belonging  to  s'*  parish." 

April  12,  1819,  "Com.  chosen  to  confer  with  the  other 
societies  in  this  Parish  respecting  the  loan  Money  &  other 
grievances."  On  February  8,  1825,  "Voted  that  Moses  Burt 
be  an  agent  to  confer  with  an  agent  chosen  by  the  South  Parish 
of  s'^  town  to  recover  the  bonds  belonging  to  s'^  Parish  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  town,  also  to  recover  the  interest  due  on  s"^ 
bonds  out  of  the  hands  of  the  com.  chosen  to  receive  the  same." 
I  have  learned  from  the  Records  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Hampden  County,  that  The  North  Parish  brought  a  suit  against 
the  town  of  Wilbraham  to  recover  $30.00  interest  money, 
claimed  to  be  due  the  parish,  on  the  4th  Monday  of  November 
1825,  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Judgment  was  given  in 
favor  of  the  town,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of  having  the 
question  go  to  the  Supreme  Court  for  a  final  decision.  The  total 
damage  claimed  at  first  was  $160.00,  which  was  probably  for 
interest  due.  The  case  was  appealed  and  came  before  the 
Supreme   Court   the   second   Tuesday  in   May,    1826.     Both 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  161 

parties  agreed  to  the  following  statement  of  the  case  (which  I 
have  condensed) : 

"A  Committee  was  appointed  by  the  town  in  1772  to  sell  or 
lease  the  Ministry  lands. 

"The  committee  reported  in  1773,  that  they  had  sold  them, 
with  a  statement  of  the  securities  received,  which  report  was 
accepted  in  town  meeting.  On  June  24,  1782,  the  town  was 
divided  into  two  parishes,  North  &  South.  The  Act  of  division 
provided  that  each  parish  should  enjoy  an  equal  part  of  all 
moneys  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  .... 

"At  the  time  of  the  division  there  was  in  the  town  treasury 
a  sum  equal  to  $833  and  one  third  of  a  dollar  ....  In  1789,  the 
town  voted  that  the  committee  having  charge  of  the  securities 
should  annually  pay  to  the  ministers  of  the  parishes,  each  one 
half  of  the  interest.  That  for  twenty  years  previous  to  1824, 
the  interest,  $25.00  each  year  was  paid,  except  when  there  was 
no  settled  minister  in  the  North  Parish,  then  it  was  paid  to  the 
Parish  Treasurer.  In  1824,  the  Town  voted  that  the  interest 
should  be  paid  to  the  several  religious  societies,  according  to  the 
proportion  of  the  town  tax  which  their  members  pay.  There 
are  other  religious  socities  not  members  of  cither  parish.  In 
1825,  a  committee  of  the  parish  demanded  of  the  town  their 
portion  of  the  interest  due,  but  it  was  not  paid  ....  It  is  there- 
fore Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  said  Inhabitants  of  the 
North  Parish  in  Wilbraham  do  recover  against  the  said  Inhabit- 
ants of  Wilbraham  the  sum  of  Twenty  six  Dollars  &  seventy 
five  cents  Damages  &  Costs  of  suit  taxed  at  fifty  one  Dollars  & 
ninety  five  cents — Excu.  P  (Execution  Issued)  Dec.  5"'  1820." 

About  two  weeks  after  this  execution  was  issued,  or  on 
December  18,  1826,  the  parish  chose  "W"  Clark,  Ebenezer  R. 
Warner  and  Doc'  Luther  Brewer  a  Com  to  receive  the  bonds 
and  to  receipt  to  the  town  for  the  same,  also  to  receive  the 
interest  on  said  bonds  on  the  1®'  of  Jan.  next  and  pay  it  into 
the  Parish  treasury."  On  November  12,  1827,  "Moses  Burt, 
W™  Clark  and  Aaron  Woodward  were  chosen  a  Com.  to  change 
the  bonds  of  the  Parish  into  the  name  of  the  Parish  and  to  take 
due  care  of  and  collect  the  interest  on  the  same." 

In  1837,  it  was  "Voted  that  the  Bonds  of  the  Parish  be  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Parish."  It  appears  from 
this  record  of  the  Court,  that  the  lawsuit  was  not  an  attempt 


162  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

of  the  town  to  get  the  "Minister  Money"  away  from  the 
parishes,  but  an  efifort  of  the  parishes  to  get  the  securities  for 
the  fund  into  their  own  possession,  and  also  to  settle  the  ques- 
tion as  to  whom  the  fund  belonged.  For  we  learn  from  the 
vote  of  the  town  in  1824,  that  the  voters  had  determined  that 
the  interest  of  the  fund  should  be  divided  among  the  several 
religious  societies,  then  in  the  town,  and  only  a  decision  of  the 
Supreme  Court  could  permanently  settle  the  question.  The 
fund  remains  in  the  possession  of  the  two  parishes  to  this  day. 
The  parish  paid  to  different  persons  a  total  of  $69.35  for  the 
expenses  of  the  lawsuit,  in  connection  with  the  transfer  of  those 
bonds.  In  1829,  the  parish  treasurer  charges  himself,  "By 
Interest  on  Parish  Loan  $45.00." 

It  is  evident  that  the  parish  fund  was  loaned  out  to  dififerent 
persons  for  several  years. 

In  the  parish  treasurer's  record  I  find  the  following: 

"Interest  due  from  sundries,  (sundry  persons)  on  the  Parish 
Loan  for  the  year  1852. 

Jan.  P'  Samuel  F.  Merrick    $18.78 
"       "    Loren  Phelps  13.87 

"       "    Benonia  Atchinson      10.00 
"    Henry  Burt  2.35 

"       "    Edmund  Jones  6.00" 

In  the  same  record  for  1856  the  amount  loaned  to  different 
persons  is  stated  as  follows: 


"Interest  Account. 

S.  F.  Merrick 

note  $312.94  interest 

18.78 

H.  Clark 

"       231.21 

13.87 

H.  Burt 

39.18       " 

2.35 

E.  Jones 

100.00       " 

6.00 

E.  Jones 

166.66       " 

10.00 

849.99  51.00" 

About  1855  and  1865  there  were  two  legacies  given  to  the 
parish  of  fifty  dollars  each,  so  that  the  sum  now  is  $950.82. 
In  1868,  the  parish  purchased  their  present  parsonage,  and  as 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  163 

those  notes  were  paid,  the  money  was  used  towards  paying  for 
the  same,  and  a  note  was  given  by  the  parish  committee  to  the 
"Parish  Loan  Committee"  for  the  total  amount,  and  the 
interest  is  paid  annually  by  the  parish.  The  first  entry  that  I 
have  found  from  this  investment  is,  "Mar.  11"\  1872,  Re""^ 
interest  on  Parish  Loan  $38.05"  which  sum  is  increased  in  1876 
to  $54.05  and  remains  the  same  at  the  present  time. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  parish  in  1890,  it  was  voted, 
"that  the  Parsonage  shall  be  named  the  Deacon  Warriner 
Parsonage,  in  honor  of  the  first  donor  of  money  to  the  Parish." 
And  so,  one  hundred  and  ten  years  after  his  death  the  memory 
of  the  good  Deacon's  act  is  perpetuated  by  a  suitable  memorial. 

The  fund  of  the  North  (or  first)  Parish,  now  called  "The 
Parish  Loan,"  is  as  follows: 

From  sale  of  the  Ministry  Lots,  about  1773,  $417.49 

Legacy  from  Deacon  Nathaniel  Warriner  in  1780,  333.33 

Legacy  from  Gilling  Atchinson  in  1850,  100.00 

Legacy  from  Nathaniel  Atchinson  in  1855,  50.00 

Legacy  from  Marania  Atchinson  in  1865,  50.00 


$950.82 


Probably  the  South  Parish,  (now  the  First  Congregational 
Society  of  Hampden)  received  the  first  two  sums,  the  same  as 
the  North  Parish,  and  of  the  same  amount. 

I  will  copy  a  few  items  from  the  church  records. 

During  the  35  years  that  the  church  record  was  kept  by  the 
first  minister.  Rev.  Noah  Merrick,  about  60  persons  are  recorded 
as  having  made  public  confession  of  their  sin  in  breaking  a  cer- 
tain commandment,  and  were  accepted,  and  had  their  children 
baptized.  Several  persons  made  public  confession  of  "y^  sin 
of  stealing,  of  intemperate  drinking,  of  evil  speaking,  and  of  a 
brea''*'  of  y^  Sabbath,  and  all  were  accepted." 

On  "Oct.  15,  1775,  Hannah,  wife  of  Justin  Stebbins,  Br' 
Letter  from  y'^  C''''  in  Palmer  and  admitted  into  C"."  One 
week  later  appears  this  entry:  "Oct"^  22,  1775.  upon  some 
witness  discovered  by  several  of  y^  Ch*",  with  regard  to  y*^  above 


164 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


vote,  relative  to  y*^  S*^  Hannah  Stebbins,  upon  reconsideration 
it  was  unanimously  Disanulled,  it  appearing  y'  she  had  a  child 
bom  in  7  months  &  five  days,  after  marriage." 

On  "April  26,  1785,  At  the  house  of  Levi  BHss,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Baldwin  Preached  a  sermon,  at  which  time,  Gaius,  Gordon, 
Levi,  Leonard,  Patty,  Catharine,  Lucrecia  and  Asenath,  chil- 
dren of  the  said  Levi ;  each  of  them  were  baptized  at  the  desire 
of  the  said  Levi's  wife."  Eight  children  in  all.  Fourteen 
years  and  three  days  later,  or  on  April  29,  1799,  three  of  those 
children,   Gordon,   Leonard  and  Asenath,   were  among  those 


LEVI  BLISS  HOUSE  . 
Probably  erected  about  1772. 


drowned  in  Nine  Mile  Pond.  The  house  where  Levi  Bliss 
lived  is  still  standing  on  the  west  side  of  our  Main  Street,  about 
half  a  mile  south  of  the  B.  &  A.  R.  R.  Station,  and  is  now 
owned  by  William  V.  Patch.  I  will  now  copy  part  of  one  of 
the  trivial  questions  which  came  before  the  church  for  considera- 
tion. 

"Sunday,  March  15,  1778,  afternoon — Dea.  Nathaniel 
Warriner  desired  the  church  to  make  a  short  stop  after  the 
exercise  was  over;   The  church  complyed  therewith.    At  which 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  165 

time  Dea"  Warriner  informed  the  church  that  a  complaint  by 
the  Wid""  Mary  Mirick  against  Doc'  Samuel  Fisk  Mirick  (then 
standing  propounded  for  church  membership)  was  lodged  in 
his  hands,  to  be  communicated  to  the  church.  The  motion  was 
made  and  the  complaint  was  read,  which  is  as  followeth.  Vis. 
"To  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Wilbraham.  The  subscriber  who 
am  a  member  of  said  church  sendeth  greeting.  Beloved; 
Whereas  Doc'  Sam'  F.  Mirrick  stands  propounded  in  order  to 
be  admitted  a  member  of  said  church.  This  is  to  inform  that 
in  my  humble  opinion,  the  said  Doc'  Mirick,  cannot  be  received 
into  church  fellowship,  under  his  present  circumstances,  con- 
sistent with  the  honour  of  religion  and  the  dignity  of  Christ's 
church.  He  having  disqualified  himself  by  his  saying,  on  a 
certain  day  last  summer,  at  my  house ;  that  a  certain  note  that 
he  had  against  me,  was  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  chest,  and 
at  another  time,  on  the  same  day,  said  that  the  said  note  was 
found  among  loose  papers;  a  few  days  after  which,  at  the 
house  then  occupied  by  William  King  Junr. ;  he,  the  said  Mir- 
rick, wholly  denyed  that  he  said  so,  but  said,  that  if  he  said  so, 
he  told  an  absolute  lie,  and  then  added  and  said,  that  the  said 
note  was  found  on  file  and  amongst  his  Father's  other  notes. 
All  which  appears  to  me  to  be  so  inconsistent  with  real  truth 
that  it  amounts  to  a  degree  of  falsehood  and  a  censurable 
violation  of  the  Ninth  Commandment,  and  contrary  to 
Zachariah  8^^  Chap.  &  IG'*'  verse,  and  although  endeavors  have 
been  used,  in  order  to  reclaim  him  and  bring  him  to  repentance, 
agreable  to  Matthew  18"'  Chap.  IS"'  &  16""  verses,  he  con- 
tinues obstinately  to  refuse  to  receive  conviction,  and  be 
released  from  his  fault.  And  now  Beloved  Bretheren  I  must 
intreat  you  to  defer  the  receiving  the  said  Mirick  into  our  com- 
munion, 'till  he  is  reclaimed  from  his  sin  and  that  you  would 
proceed  to  such  measures  as  the  Gospel  directs  in  order  to 
efifect  the  same. 

MARY     X     MIRRICK 

mark 

'Wilbraham,  March  13'"  1778. 

'  To  the  care  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner  to  be  communicated 
to  the  church.' 

"The  question  was  put  whether  the  church  would  act  or  do 
anything  in  consequence  of  the  beforegoing  complaint.  It  was 
voted  in  the  affirmative.  Then  it  was  proposed  that  some 
future  time  and  some  weekday  should  be  agreed  upon  for  further 
prosecution.  Accordingly  it  was  unanimously  agreed  and 
voted  that  Thursday,  the  26""  day  of  this  instant,  March,  at 


166  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

one  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  should  be  the  time  for  hearing 
party  and  party,  and  to  agree  and  pass  such  other  votes  as  the 
matter  should  then  require.    The  church  then  dispersed." 

The  meeting  was  held,  "the  Complaint  was  red,  and  Doctor 
Mirick  Denys  his  being  guilty  of  the  Charge — The  witnesses 
were  called  &  Sworn.  Viz.  Mr.  Ezra  Barker  and  Mr.  Jonathan 
Mirick  to  Prove  the  charge,  Mrs.  Mirick,  and  Mr.  Chiliab 
Mirick  in  opposition.  The  case  being  opened  and  Pleas  made 
on  either  side,  and  the  C^^  Having  Considered  the  matter 
Maturely,  the  question  was  Put,  whether  the  afore^'^  Com- 
plaint, Exhibited  against  Doc*  Mirick,  was  supported,  it  passed 
in  the  Negative,  the  C^^  meeting  was  Disolved. 
'Test,  Moses  Stebbins  Clerk 

for  s^  meeting." 

What  silly  proceedings,  making  a  police  court  of  the  church. 

At  the  meeting  held  "Lord's  Day,  July  26,  1778,  Doct  Sam" 

Fisk  Mirick  was  Rec^  a  member  in  full  Communion  with  this 
Chh  " 

Dr.  Merrick  was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  those  days.  He 
was  surgeon  in  Colonel  Porter's  regiment  which  marched  in 
1776,  to  reinforce  the  Northern  Army.  He  made  the  address, 
in  the  meeting  house,  in  1831,  at  the  celebration  of  the  100th 
anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  our  town.  In  his  later  years 
he  became  hard  of  hearing,  and  I  have  been  told,  by  those  who 
knew  him,  that  on  Sundays  he  used  to  sit  on  the  steps  leading 
up  into  the  pulpit,  and  if  the  preacher  said  anything  with 
which  he  did  not  agree,  he  would  say,  "Don't  believe  it,  don't 
believe  it." 

The  society  has  had  four  different  meeting  houses.  The  first 
was  used  on  Wigwam  Hill  for  about  46  years,  1748,  to  1794, 
when  it  was  moved  down  to  the  site  of  the  present  church,  where 
it  continued  to  be  used  for  about  64  years  longer,  or  until  the 
spring  of  1857,  when,  after  a  service  of  110  years,  it  was  moved 
a  little  way  to  the  northeast,  to  the  ground  where  the  livery 
stable  now  is,  and  was  converted  into  a  bam,  and  a  new  meeting 
house  erected. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  167 

I  attended  services  in  the  original  one  for  a  few  years,  and 
there  are  a  few  others  here  who  attended  there  for  a  longer 
period.  There  was  a  gallery  on  three  sides  of  the  house.  One 
of  these,  on  the  west  end,  was  reserved  for  the  singers  and  the 
players  upon  instruments.  That  on  the  north  side  was  occupied 
by  the  boys,  and  I  was  seated  with  them.  The  other,  on  the 
south  side,  may  have  been  used  by  the  girls.  I  am  not  very 
clear  in  my  recollection  about  that.  The  pulpit  was  at  the 
east  end  of  the  building  and  there  were  two  aisles  between  the 
pews.  The  outer  tier  of  pews  joined  onto  the  sides  of  the 
house. 

The  seating  of  the  meeting  house  was  a  heart-burning  and 
almost  a  heart-breaking  experience. 

A  committee  was  frequently  chosen  to  assign  a  seat  to  each 
person,  or  family,  and  questions  of  precedence  were  most  care- 
fully discussed  by  them.  But  their  arrangement  of  the  seatings 
was  hardly  ever  satisfactory  to  everyone.  On  one  occasion  a 
woman,  who  had  come  to  mature  years  and  had  never  married, 
felt  that  she  had  not  been  assigned  a  seat  in  accordance  with  her 
importance,  and  she  never  occupied  it,  but  carried  a  chair  to 
the  meeting  house,  on  Sabbath  days,  and  sat  in  the  aisle  near 
the  pew  where  she  felt  she  belonged.  I  have  heard  Dr.  Kibbe 
and  his  wife  tell  that  story,  and  laugh  over  it,  more  than  once, 
but  I  do  not  remember  her  name. 

The  second  meeting  house  was  erected  in  1857,  and  served  its 
useful  purpose  for  only  20  years.  The  basement  was  finished, 
and  used  for  evening  meetings  and  social  gatherings.  On  the 
afternoon  of  Sunday,  June  24th,  1877,  the  136th  anniversary 
of  the  founding  of  the  church,  a  four  or  five-years  old  boy,  rest- 
less and  un watched,  wandered  around  the  building,  and  finding  a 
basement  window  open,  crept  in  and  looked  around.  In  a  stove 
he  found  a  quantity  of  loose  papers,  and  perhaps  he  added  other 
material.  Climbing  up  to  the  top  of  a  cupboard,  he  found  the  tin 
pail  in  which  the  matches  were  carefully  kept.  He  set  the  papers 
on  fire.  The  stove  had  not  been  in  use  for  some  time  and  was  not 
connected  by  a  pipe  with  the  chimney,  and  soon  clouds  of 
smoke  were  pouring  out  of  the  windows.     The  pastor,  Rev. 


168  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

M  vS.  Howard,  from  the  parsonage  window  across  the  street, 
saw  the  smoke,  and  rushing  over  to  the  meeting  house,  rang 
with  all  his  might  the  dreaded  and  dreadful  fire  alarm,  con- 
tinuing at  the  task  while  the  swift  flame  mounted  up  into  the 
belfry  and  threatened  to  throw  the  steeple  down  upon  him. 
So  the  "First  Sabbath  bell  of  the  mountains,"  which  had  so 
often  tolled  the  knell  of  others,  passing  on  their  way  to  the  place 
appointed  for  all  the  living,  as  its  last  service,  rang  out  the 
tidings  of  its  own  doom.  When  the  evening  shadows  gathered, 
the  meeting  house,  also  the  one  which  had  been  converted  into 
a  bam,  and  four  dwelling  houses,  standing  northerly  of  the 
meeting  house,  with  their  out-buildings,  were  smoking  heaps 
of  ruins.  A  barn  on  the  lot  where  the  soldiers'  monument  now 
is,  was  torn  down  to  prevent  the  fire  spreading  further.  A  fire 
engine  came  from  Springfield,  but  could  do  nothing.  So,  both 
of  the  buildings  which  had  served  as  meeting  houses  for  this 
society,  perished  on  the  same  day.  The  first  had  weathered  the 
winds  of  130  winters,  the  second  had  stood  but  20  years. 

The  third  meeting  house  was  commenced  immediately,  and 
the  chapel  part  was  ready  for  use  late  in  the  autumn,  and  the 
building  was  dedicated  June  26,  1878,  and,  as  an  evidence  of 
the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  the  members  of  the  parish,  I  will 
mention  that  they  made  the  steeple  ten  feet  higher  than  it  was 
on  the  old  one.  It  was  a  beautiful  and  commodious  building 
and  all  of  the  rooms  were  on  the  same  floor,  and  it  served  its 
noble  purpose  for  34  years,  until  that  dreadful  5th  day  of  July, 
1911,  when,  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  in  the  midst  of  a 
most  terrific  wind  and  electric  storm,  the  fire  came  down  from 
the  lightning-charged  clouds,  and  seized  first  upon  the  topmost 
part  of  the  slender  spire,  which  had  been  for  so  many  years  an 
impressive  land-mark  from  many  miles  around.  And  from  that 
high  point,  the  fire,  working  at  first  slowly  but  surely  downward, 
soon  enveloped  the  entire  building  and,  before  evening,  only 
a  few  charred  and  blackened  timbers  and  twisted  iron  rods 
remained  of  the  meeting  house  which  all  of  us  had  loved.  The 
outlook  for  a  new  building,  in  view  of  the  prevailing  high  prices, 
was  not  verv  favorable  at  first.    But  the  members  of  the  society 


I 


170  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

were  not  discouraged,  and  entering  upon  the  task  with  some  such 
energy  and  zeal  as  had  characterized  the  fathers,  subscriptions 
for  about  $9,000  were  secured,  which,  with  about  $8,000 
derived  from  the  insurance  and  interest  on  the  same,  was 
sufficient  to  erect  a  new  meeting  house  at  a  total  cost  of  about 
$17,000,  which  was  dedicated  Sunday,  May  11th,  1913,  with 
all  bills  paid.  And  again  the  members  of  the  old  First  Parish 
have  a  church  home  of  their  own.  By  the  kindness  of  the 
Methodist  society,  union  services  have  been  held  in  their 
church  for  the  past  two  years,  which  it  is  expected  will  be  con- 
tinued, a  part  of  the  time  in  each  church.  On  May  25,  1817, 
twenty-seven  children  were  baptized  at  one  service,  by  a  visit- 
ing pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Colton  of  Palmer.  Nine  families  were 
represented;  only  one  of  them  now  residing  in  town,  as  follows: 
"Lorin,  Sarah,  Ann,  &  Lucinda,  children  of  Roswell  Phelps 
were  baptised." 

There  were  also  six  children  of  Samuel  Warner. 

On  April,  29th  1799,  occurred  the  sad  tragedy  of  Nine  Mile 
Pond,  when  five  of  the  young  people  of  Wilbraham,  and  a  Mr. 
Guy  Johnson  of  Tolland,  Conn.,  were  drowned  there,  by  the 
overturning  of  a  boat  in  which  they  were  sailing.  The  house 
where  they  were  having  the  "Merry  Making,"  is  still  standing 
on  the  west  side  of  our  Main  Street,  about  half  a  mile  south  of 
the  B.  &  A.  R.  R.  Station,  and  is  now  owned  by  William  V. 
Patch.  The  land,  on  which  the  house  stands,  is  probably  part 
of  the  ministry  lot  in  the  second  division,  for  on  June  8,  1772, 
Levi  Bliss  purchased  the  entire  width  of  the  ministry  lot  from 
the  ' '  principal  road  in  said  Wilbraham  westward  to  the  inward 
commons."  The  width  was  37  rods  and  4  feet,  and  the  lot  con- 
tained about  161  acres.  I  have  found  the  deed  recorded  with 
the  Registry  of  Deeds  in  Springfield.  Levi  Bliss  was  father  of 
three  of  the  young  people  who  were  drowned. 

The  story  is  well  told  by  copying,  in  part,  the  account  written 
at  the  time  and  published,  with  three  of  the  funeral  sermons,  in 
a  small  volume,  "Printed  at  Springfield"  in  1799.  The  title 
page  of  this  volume  is  as  follows : 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  171 

"The  Living  Warned  to  be  Prepared  for  Death. 

A    SERMON 

Occasioned  by  the 

DEATH    OF    SIX    YOUNG     PERSONS 

Who  were  drowned  in  a  pond  in  Wilbraham,  Massachusetts, 
April  29,  1799: 

And  Delivered  May  2  when  the  funeral  of  five  of 
them  was  attended 

By  CHARLES  BACKUS,  A.  M. 

Pastor  of  a  Church  in  Somers,  Connecticut.     To  which  is 
subjoined  Two  Discourses. 


Delivered  in  Wilbraham  May  12,  '99  on  the 
Same  occasion 

BY  REV.  MR.  WITTER 

Pastor  of  the  North  Church  in  Wilbraham  Together  with  an 

Appendix  giving  some  account  of  the  particulars 

of  the  Melancholy  Event." 


172  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

The  Appendix  is  as  follows: 

"In  a  circle  of  young  ladies  assembled  for  the  purpose  of 
spending  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  of  April  1799.  at  the  house  of 
Mr  Levi  Bliss  in  Wilbraham,  a  proposition  was  made  and 
agreed  to  by  some  of  the  company  to  form  a  sailing  party  on  a 
pond  at  a  little  distance.  After  tea  they  repaired  to  the  pond, 
some  on  foot,  by  a  short  route,  and  some  on  horseback.  Mr 
Gordon  Bliss,  Miss  Asenath  Bliss,  Miss  Nabby  Merrick  and 
Miss  Mary  Warriner,  who  walked,  and  Mr  Leonard  Bliss  who 
rode  before  the  others,  reached  the  pond  first.  When  the  young 
ladies  on  horseback,  who  kept  the  road  and  who  were  accident- 
ally delayed  a  little  on  the  way,  arrived  at  the  pond  they  dis- 
covered their  companions  above  mentioned,  and  a  Mr  Guy 
Johnson,  already  in  the  boat,  under  full  sail.  They  retired  to  a 
house  a  few  rods  distant,  where  they  witnessed  the  distressing 
scene  that  followed.  The  wind  was  high  and  flawy.  The  boat 
had  not  proceeded  far  before  it  was  careened  down  by  a  strong 
gust  so  as  probably  to  dip  water.  The  young  ladies  immedi- 
ately sprang  to  the  upper  side  of  the  boat.  As  the  wind  slack- 
ened, the  boat  righted,  and  stood  with  rapidity,  across  the 
pond.  When  within  a  little  distance  of  a  point  of  land  projecting 
from  the  opposite  shore,  it  came  within  the  influence  of  a  strong 
current  of  wind  which,  when  high  and  blowing  in  the  direction 
it  then  did,  necessarily  passes,  from  the  situation  of  the  adjacent 
lands,  with  considerable  violence  over  that  region  of  the  pond. 

"Whether  attempting  to  heave  about,  to  tack  in  order  to 
avoid  the  point,  or  in  a  direct  course  is  uncertain;  but  the  boat 
immediately  caught  the  gale,  leisurely  overset,  filled  and  sank. 
The  distance,  the  foaming  of  the  water,  and  more  particularly 
the  terror  and  consternation  of  the  young  ladies  in  the  house, 
prevented  their  observing  with  accuracy  the  remaining  part  of 
the  distressing  scene.  They  well  remember,  however,  to  have 
seen  a  part,  at  least,  of  their  companions  floating  for  some  time 
on  the  water.  They  noticed  particularly  the  red  skirts  and  white 
bonnets  of  one  or  two  of  the  young"  ladies.  But  whether  they 
sank  and  rose  again,  and  how  often,  they  cannot  with  certainty 
determine. 

"The  woman  of  the  house,  less  affrighted  than  her  agitated 
guests,  encouraged  them  for  some  time,  with  the  undoubted 
prospect,  as  the  gentlemen  were  swimmers  and  they  appeared 
to  be  nigh  the  shore,  of  their  getting  safe  to  land.  They  soon, 
however,  lost  all  hope  of  their  escape — for,  to  their  inex- 
pressible   astonishment,    they    perceived    them    beginning    to 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  173 

disappear,  one  after  another,  till  at  length  nothing  was  to  be 
seen  but  a  solitary  hat  or  two  floating  upon  the  surface  of  the 
water. 

"They  were  overset  about  6  o'clock.  There  was  no  help  at 
hand,  the  place  where  they  were  was  difficult  of  access,  on 
account  of  swamps  and  brush,  and  there  being  no  boat  short 
of  an  adjacent  pond.  In  consequence  of  these  and  other  im- 
pediments, the  bodies  all  lay  in  the  water  till  nearly  8  o'clock, 
when  Mr.  Leonard  Bliss  and  Mr  Johnson  were  taken  out,  and  a 
short  time  after  Miss  Warriner.  But  with  all  the  remedies 
resorted  to  under  existing  disadvantageous  circumstances,  no 
signs  of  returning  life  appeared.  In  the  morning  of  the  next 
day,  Mr.  Gordon  Bliss  and  Miss  Asenath  Bliss  were  found. 
Constant  search  was  made  for  Miss  Merrick.  On  the  second 
day  of  May  the  five  above  mentioned  were  interred.  The  most 
unwearied  exertions  continued  to  be  made  for  a  number  of  days 
by  a  large  body  of  men,  with  a  variety  of  instruments.  Their 
uncommon  and  persevering  engagedness  urged  them  to  the 
herculean  labor  of  draining  the  pond  of  its  vast  quantity  of 
water;  but  all  in  vain.  At  length,  on  the  morning  of  the  15'^ 
of  May,  when  all  attempts  to  recover  her  were  in  a  great 
measure  given  over  as  fruitless,  the  body  was  discovered  by 
travelers,  drifting  before  a  gentle  breeze  toward  the  shore  where 
it  had  a  short  time  before  taken  its  fatal  departure.  The  body 
was  entire,  but  had  become  very  tender,  none  of  the  features  of 
the  face  were  retained,  and  soon  after  exposure  to  the  air  it 
became  bloated  and  discolored.  It  was  interred  the  morning 
after. 

"The  depth  of  water  where  the  boat  went  down  was  more 
than  20  feet,  and  the  distance  from  shore  about  six  or  seven 
rods.  Why  three  swimmers,  and  two  of  them  good  ones,  should 
not  only  suffer  the  three  young  ladies  to  drown,  but  likewise  to 
drown  themselves  so  nigh  land,  has  been  a  subject  of  various 
conjecture.  It  has  been  thought  probable,  by  some,  that  one 
or  two,  at  least,  of  the  gentlemen  were  impeded  in  their  exer- 
tions, by  attempts  to  save  the  ladies,  and  some  circumstances 
seem  to  favor  the  supposition,  but  no  decided  evidence  of  it 
was  discovered.  Mr.  Johnson  belonged  in  Tolland,  Conn.,  the 
others  were  all  of  the  North  society  in  Wilbraham.  Three  of 
them  were  children  of  Mr.  Levi  Bliss,  and  were  buried  in  one 
grave;  one  of  them  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick,  and 
the  other  a  daughter  of  the  Widow  Mary  Warriner.  The  young 
men  were  between  20  and  30  and  the  young  ladies  between  15 
and  16  years  of  age.     Man  also  knoweth  not  his  time;    as  the 


174  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

fishes  that  are  taken  in  an  evil  net,  and  as  the  birds  that  are 
caught  in  the  snare,  so  are  the  sons  of  men  snared  in  an  evil 
time,  when  it  falleth  suddenly  upon  them." 

So  runs  the  story  of  the  great  tragedy  of  Wilbraham.  All  the 
surrounding  towns  sent  help  to  assist  in  recovering  the  body  of 
Abigail  Merrick  of  whom  it  was  said  ' '  The  Lord  hath  given  her 
burial ;  let  be."  A  ditch  was  cut  through  the  open  fields,  leading 
off  to  the  west,  which  must  have  lowered  the  water  at  least  one 
foot,  and  still  remains  as  an  outlet  to  the  pond.  The  water  now 
flows  into  the  Chicopee,  instead  of  the  Connecticut  River.  A 
heavy  cannon  was  drawn  from  Springfield  with  the  hope  that 
the  concussion  caused  by  firing  it  might  bring  the  body  to  the 
surface.  The  shadows  of  mid-afternoon  were  lengthening  across 
the  fields,  when  the  lolling  dust-covered  oxen  dragged  the  heavy 
cannon  on  to  an  elevation  west  of  the  pond,  and  its  mighty 
voice  called  again  and  again  across  the  dark  waters  for  the  dead 
to  arise.  The  long  reverberations,  rolling  far  away  to  the  south- 
ward, sounded  to  the  listening  dwellers  along  the  mountain 
side,  like  the  tolling  of  some  monster  funeral  bell,  for  the  buried 
of  the  Lord.  But  the  sleeper  heeded  not,  nor  heard  the  call  and 
undisturbed  slept  on.  The  waters  were  not  yet  willing  to  give 
up  their  secret.  The  excitement  wore  itself  away  in  the  general 
conviction  that  Abigail  Merrick  had  found  her  final  sepulcher. 
On  the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  day  after  the  accident,  two 
travelers  passing  along  the  old  Bay  Road,  saw  something  float- 
ing out  in  the  center  of  the  pond.  A  gentle  south  wind  was 
wafting  it  slowly  shoreward,  and  the  long-hidden  body  was 
soon  brought,  by  willing  hands,  safely  to  land,  and  is  now  laid 
side  by  side  with  much  kindred  dust. 

To  add  to  the  woe  of  this  God-fearing  people,  their  pastor 
was  absent,  and  the  funeral  services  for  the  five  were  conducted 
by  Rev.  Charles  Backus  of  Somers,  Conn.  Rev.  Mr.  Witter, 
the  pastor,  preached  two  memorial  sermons  the  following 
Sunday,  May  12.  Sickness  prevented  his  being  with  Dr. 
Merrick's  family  when  Miss  Merrick  was  recovered  from  the 
water,  and  her  funeral  was  conducted  by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Vennilyes 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  175 

the  moniing  of  May  16.  This  event  made  such  a  profound 
impression  throughout  this  region,  that  the  boat  was  placed  on 
a  wagon,  draped  in  black,  and  taken  through  many  of  the 
towns  of  the  Connecticut  valley. 

If  you  will  search  among  the  headstones  near  the  center  of 
the  old  Adams  burial  ground,  you  may  there  read  on  the  moss- 
grown  lettered  stones,  this  same  story. 

' '  In  memory  of 
Miss  Mary  Daughter 

of  Dn.  Noah  and 

Mrs  Mary  Warriner 

Was  drowned  in  a 

pond  in  Wilbraham 

together  with  five  others 

on  the  29  of 

April  1799  in  the 

16  year  of  her  age. 

Bost  not  thyself  of  tomorrow  for  thou 

knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth." 

The  footstone  bears  a  carved  six-petaled  flower  about  the 
following  inscription : — 

"Miss 
M.  W. 
1799." 

The  inscription  on  Miss  Merrick's  stone  reads: — 

' '  Abigail 

Dautr  of  Doc  Samuel 

F.  Merrick  &  Mrs  Sarah 

his  wife  was  drowned 

with  five  others  in  a 

Pond  three  miles 

from  this  place 

April  29'h  1799. 

In  the  16  year  of 

her  age,  and  after 

lying  in  the  water 

more  than  fifteen 

days  was  taken  out 

and  is  here  interred." 


176  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

The  inscription  on  the  stone  of  the  BHss  children  follows: — 

"  In  memory  of  three 
unfortinate  Children 
of  Mr  Levi  and  Mrs 
Martha  Bliss.  Viz 
Gordon  aged  28 
Leonard  22  Asenath 
16  years  who  were 
drowned  in  nine  mile 
pond  in  this  town  April 
29.  A.  D.  1799. 
Pleasant  they  lived,  nor  did  their  pleasure  cloy; 
Each  day  presented  some  new  scene  of  joy. 
By  nature  near,  nearer  by  love  allyd. 
No  chance  could  part  them  nor  stem  death  devide. 
Together  they  their  hapless  fate  bemoaned. 
Together  languished  and  together  groaned : 
Together  too,  the  unbodied  spirits  fled, 
And  sought  the  unknown  regions  of  the  dead." 

About  1870,  I  discovered  a  copy  of  the  following  "Ode,"  in 
an  album  once  owned  by  Esther  M.  Lsham  and  probably  copied 
into  it  about  1850.  About  1860,  I  saw  another  copy,  which  I 
think  is  the  same,  then  in  the  possession  of  Gilbert  vS.  Atchinson. 

AN  ODE 

Hark!  hear  the  tidings,  Wilbraham  in  mourning. 
Girded  in  sackcloth,  and  her  cries  ascending; 
Fathers  and  mothers  weeping  for  their  children, 
Deep  in  the  billows. 

Six  youthful  persons,  for  their  own  diversion. 
See  them  a-hastening  to  a  pond  for  sailing; 
As  soon  embarked,  see  them  plunged  headlong; 
Sight  how  affecting. 

Oh  the  distraction  of  the  few  beholders. 
Just  now  a-pleading  for  a  passage  with  them, 
Now  hear  them  screaming,  running,  crying, 
Cannot  relieve  them. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  177 

Now  see  them  sinking,  rising,  floating; 
Death  seizes  on  them,  tender  life  is  yielding; 
Now  see  them  sinking  watery  tombs  receive  them; 
Rising  no   more. 

Now  tidings  spread,  now  clothes  the  street  in  mourning; 
See  horses  running,  men  and  women  flying; 
Each  heart  is  pained  and  the  ground  bedewed 
With  flowing  tears. 

Oh  the  distraction  of  the  tender  parents ! 
See  them  advancing,  overwhelmed  in  sorrow; 
Read  in  their  faces  anguish  in  their  bosoms, 
Pleading  within  them. 

See  them  in  anguish  walking  the  mournful  shore, 
Looking  and  wishing,  had  they  arms  to  reach  them. 
Willing  to  plunge  the  watery  mansions  for  them. 
Prudence  refuses. 

Now  grief  within  them  struggles  for  a  passage; 
Crys  out  in  anguish,  Jesus  send  thine  angels 
With  some  refreshing  waters  from  the  fountain, 
Or  we  shall  perish. 

While  some  are  mourning  others  are  a-sounding. 
Searching  the  bottom  for  the  drowned  bodies; 
Deep  from  the  watery  tombs  they  quickly  raise  them. 
One  still  remains. 

Now  on  the  mournful  shore  the  corpses  are  lying, 
Just  now  all  action,  little  thinking  danger. 
Now  hearing  judgment  from  the  great  Redeemer, 
Not  to  be  altered. 

Oh  see  the  parents  bending  o'er  the  bodies; 
See  tender  mothers  wipe  their  drowned  faces. 
Oh  say.  Spectators,  did  you  read  the  anguish 
Wrote  in  their  faces? 

Are  these  our  children?    Oh  how  cold  and  lifeless, 
Death,  dust  and  ashes,  cold  as  clay  their  faces. 
Mothers  sit  in  silence,  sleep  in  death's  embraces 
But  still  our  passions. 


178  The  History  of  Wilbraiiam 

Wisdom  hath  mingled  this  cup  of  trembhng ; 
May  we  not  murmur,  but  with  patience  drink  it ; 
Parents  of  heaven,  while  we  wade  the  billows, 
Hold  us  from  sinking. 

Just  are  Thy  dealings,  Thy  decrees  eternal, 
Let  not  sinful  mortals  question  wisdom  ;• 
Never  wish  to  turn  a  leaf  of  heaven's  secrets, 
Waiting  contented. 

Graves  are  prepared  and  the  day  appointed, 
Thousands  attend  the  solemn  day  of  mourning, 
While  from  the  desk  a  solemn  warning  given, 
Each  heart  is  bleeding. 

Once  more  behold  the  poor,  distressed  mourners ; 
See  them  approaching  near  the  breathless  bodies; 
Read  in  their  faces  the  tender  ties  of  parents, 
Mingling  their  sorrows. 

See  them  advancing  to  the  silent  mansions. 
In  solemn  order  see  the  string  of  coffins 
Borne  up  by  bearers  and  a  train  of  mourners 
Following  in  tears. 

Farewell  our  children,  till  the  great  archangel 
Shakes  the  creation  with  the  trump  of  heaven, 
Then  hope  to  meet  your  children,  joined  with 
saints  and  angels, 
Hail  the  Redeemer. 

In  an  account  of  this  sad  event,  written  by  Miss  E.  O.  Beebe, 
and  published  recently,  is  the  following  "Ode." 

Behold  God  shake  His  awful  hand 
Over  the  town  of  Wilbraham. 
And  there  He  let  stem  Justice  fly 
And  winged  Vengeance  from  on  high. 
He  makes  ye  mortals  for  to  know 
Where  He  commands  His  wrath  shall  go; 
And  ma\'  ye  tremble  at  that  day 
When  He  did  snatch  \-our  friends  awav. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  179 

That  day  the  sun  in  splendor  rose 
To  wake  each  soul  from  its  repose. 
It  was  in  April  ninety-nine. 
These  few  young  maidens  did  combine. 
A  visit  they  had  planned  to  make 
And  for  that  end  their  way  did  take 
To  Mr  Bliss's  in  the  street 
Where  they  in  harmony  did  meet. 
And  being  young  they  sought  to  speed 
Not  knowing  what  God  had  decreed. 
A  sailing  voyage  they  did  propose 
And  there  each  one  their  party  chose. 
Now  Air  Gordon  Bliss  made  one. 
With  him  Miss  Nabby  Merrick  run. 
And  Miss  Asenath  Bliss  made  three. 
With  her  Miss  Warriner  did  agree. 

These  four,  they  ran  with  hasty  speed, 
While  Leonard  Bliss  before  did  ride. 
And  these  across  the  lots  set  out 
While  others  went  another  route. 
How  swift  and  dreadful  was  their  flight 
From  Mr  Bliss's  out  of  sight : 
At  length  they  came  unto  the  shore 
And  viewed  their  pleasure  as  before. 

These  their  companions  did  outrun. 
At  length  unto  the  boat  they  came 
And  they  with  Johnson  leaped  in 
And  hoisted  sail  up  to  the  wind. 
With  fresh  delight  and  pleasant  breeze 
They  ran  across  their  little  seas. 
And  in  attempting  to  turn  'round 
A  gale  of  wind  did  cast  them  down. 

Oh  solemn,  solemn,  solemn  scenes! 
To  hear  their  screeches  and  their  screams 
While  sinking  down  beneath  the  waves 
And  drinking  death  in  gasping  graves! 
Oh,  Lord,  how  must  those  creatures  feel 
When  their  dear  souls  began  to  reel, 
And  their  companions  on  the  shore, 
To  see  them  sink  to  rise  no  more." 


180  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

There  each  of  them  they  lost  their  breath 

In  the  cold,  icy  arms  of  death. 

And  bid  a  long  and  last  farewell 

To  all  this  side  of  heaven  and  hell. 

To  gain  their  lives  was  all  their  aim, 

But  all  attempts  did  prove  in  vain : 

It  was  an  instance  very  rare 

That  three  good  swimmers  drownded  there. 

Not  more  than  six  yards  from  the  shore 
On  the  next  day  they  found  two  more. 
From  neighboring  towns  vast  numbers  met 
The  sorrowing  mourners  for  to  greet 
And  take  a  final,  last  survey 
Of  the  pale  lumps  of  lifeless  clay. 
Now  there  is  one  was  left  behind. 
Miss  Nabby  Merrick  was  confined. 

Her  body  under  water  lay 

Until  the  revolving  sixteenth  day. 

Both  day  and  night  they  searched  around 

But  nothing  of  her  could  be  found, 

Until  some  travelers  passing  by. 

They  saw  her  on  the  water  lie. 

She  was  conveyed  back  to  the  town 

And  laid  in  the  cold  and  silent  ground. 

And  so  the  sad  story  is  concluded. 


A  brief  account  of  the  efforts  to  increase  the  fish  supply  of 
this  pond  may  be  of  interest. 

On  January  10th,  1871,  the  State  of  Massachusetts  leased 
the  pond  to  Mr.  B.  F.  Bowles  of  Springfield  for  ten  years.  He 
put  about  50  black  bass,  of  small  size,  in  the  pond.  The  lease 
became  void.  On  March  1st,  1877,  the  town  took  a  lease  for 
15  years,  and  at  the  next  town  meeting  appropriated  $150  for 
stocking  the  pond  with  new  fish,  and  elected  a  committee  to 
attend  to  the  business.  On  May  5,  1877,  about  6000  land- 
locked salmon  fry  were  procured  from  the  State  Commissioners 
and  placed  in  the  pond,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year,  27 
black  bass,  of  an  average  weight  of  one  and  one-half  pounds 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  181 

each,  were  procured  of  Mr.  Robert  Holmes  of  Wareham,  Mass., 
and  placed  in  the  pond  in  good  condition. 

The  total  expense  was  $118.40.  All  fishing  in  the  pond  was 
prohibited  for  four  years,  and  then  only  allowed  to  residents 
of  the  town  who  had  procured  a  permit  from  the  Fish  Com- 
missioners of  the  town.  In  1881,  fishing  was  permitted  on 
Thursday  of  each  week  from  July  1st,  to  November  1st.  One 
hundred  and  four  permits  were  issued.  Each  permit  included 
the  family  of  the  holder,  and  about  two-thirds  of  those  who 
received  a  permit  made  a  return  of  the  number  of  pounds  of 
fish  caught,  with  the  following  result. 

Pounds  of  bass  caught,  583^^ 

Pounds  of  pickerel  caught,  121 
Pounds  of  other  fish,  84 


Total  amount  returned,       263 J^  pounds. 

Some  very  large  black  bass,  weighing  from  five  to  twelve 
pounds,  were  caught  in  1881  and  1882.  I  do  not  know  that  any 
land-locked  salmon  were  ever  caught  there.  After  a  few  years 
the  lease  was  abandoned. 

The  Fish  Committee  were,  Chauncey  E.  Peck,  Calvin  G. 
Robbins,  Samuel  M.  Bliss. 

In  the  year  1894,  The  Springfield  Bicycle  Club  erected  a  club 
house  on  the  east  side  of  the  pond.  The  name  of  the  club  was 
afterwards  changed  to  Manchonis  Club.  And  so  the  original 
name  of  the  pond,  "Manchonis  Pond,"  is  preserved. 

In  recent  years  some  ten  or  fifteen  bungalows,  or  summer 
houses,  have  been  erected  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  pond,  and 
on  the  northerly  side  of  the  peninsula  which  juts  out  from  the 
east  side  of  the  pond,  near  its  center,  making  quite  a  change  in 
its  general  appearance. 


182  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

THE  MARCUS  LYON  MURDER 

Only  a  few  months  more  than  six  years  after  the  sad  accident 
at  Nine  Mile  Pond,  occurred  the  horrid  murder  of  Marcus  Lyon. 
None  of  the  principals  in  the  affair  were  residents  of  this 
town,  but  the  crime  was  committed  here,  on  the  old  Bay  Road, 
about  one-third  of  a  mile  east  of  the  present  Railroad  Station. 
The  two  men  who  committed  the  murder  were  traveling  from 
Boston  to  New  York.    "They  lodged  in  Western  (now  Warren) 
on  the  night  of  November  8th.     On  the  forenoon  of  the  next 
day  they  called  at  a  Store  in  Palmer,  near  the  meeting  house, 
and  took  some  spirit  in  a  canister;    about  two  miles  from  this 
towards  Wilbraham  they  soon  called  at  a  Tavern  and  drank." 
(There  was  a  tavern  across  the  road  from  the  "Washington 
Elm.")     These  two  men  were  seen  traveling  with  great  speed 
towards    Springfield,    and    when    they    arrived    there,    "they 
directed  their  course  to  the  lower  ferry.  .  .  .  They  called  for 
some  hasty  refreshment  at  a  tavern  in  the  upper  part  of  Suffield, 
and  then  pushed  on  to  Picket's  tavern  in  Windsor,  where  they 
remained  over  night.     On  Sunday  morning  they  started  early 
and  had  breakfast  in  Hartford.     On  Tuesday  morning  they 
were  in  Greenwich,  and  at  Cross-Cob  harbor,  where  they  had 
bespoke  a  passage  to  New  York,  by  water,  to  sail  shortly. 
While  they  were  there  the  pursuers  came  up  and  arrested 
them.  .  .  .  They  were  from  Tuesday  until  Saturday  on  their 
way  from  Boston  to  Wilbraham,  a  distance  of  about  80  miles. 
And  from  the  afternoon  of  Saturday  to  the  forenoon  of  Tues- 
day, when  they  were  arrested,  they  had  travelled  about  130 
miles.  .  .  .  (or)  at  the  rate  of  nearly  50  miles  a  day.  .  .  .  April 
24,  1806,  in  the  morning,  the  trial  commenced  in  the  meeting- 
house, in  Northampton,  which  was  insufificient  to  hold  the  crowd 
collected  from  various  quarters."     A  preliminary  hearing  of 
the  case  was  held  in  the  "Town  House"  at  Springfield  on  the 
Friday  after  they  were  arrested,  where  they  were  ordered  to  be 
committed  for  trial  before  a  regular  session  of  the  Court.     I 
have  gathered  the  above  items  from  a  long  account  of  the 
affair,  published  by  Ezekiel  Terry  about  1810. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  183 

The  men  who  found  the  body  of  the  murdered  man  in  the 
river,  were  M.  K.  Bartlett  and  P.  BHss.  It  was  found  "about 
9  o  clock  in  the  evening  of  Sunday  Nov.  10'*'  1805,  and  was 
conveyed  in  a  waggon  to  the  Stage  house,  occupied  by  Asa 
Calkins." 

I  now  copy  part  of  an  account,  published  at,  or  near  the  time, 
and  republished  in  a  History  of  Massachusetts  about  1835. 

The  following  is  from  the  Massachusetts  Spy  (Worcester) 
November  20th,  1805. 

"  Mr  Thomas  Jun.     Sir. 

I  have  written  the  following  at  the  earnest  request  of  the 
relatives  of  the  deceased.  Please  to  give  it  a  place  in  your  paper, 
and  you  will  gratify  the  public,  and  discharge  a  duty  which 
humanity  imposes. 

Your  real  friend 

Z.  L.  L. 

Horrid  Murder  and  Robbery 

"Mr.  Marcus  Lyon,  a  young  man  of  peculiar  respectability, 
about  23  years  of  age,  left  his  friends  in  Woodstock,  Conn., 
last  March,  and  went  to  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  and  labored  through 
the  season.  As  he  was  on  his  return  to  his  native  place, 
mounted  on  an  excellent  horse,  he  was  attacked  by  two  merci- 
less ruffians  in  Wilbraham,  on  the  Springfield  turnpike  road, 
between  the  gate  and  Sikes  tavern,  on  the  Q'*"  inst,  about 
2  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  there  murdered  in  the  most  barbarous 
manner.  The  circumstances  attending  the  awful  scene  are 
almost  too  shocking  to  humanity  to  relate.  It  is  supposed 
from  the  best  circumstantial  evidence,  that  the  unfortunate 
young  gentleman  was  first  shot  with  a  pistol ;  but  the  assassins, 
perceiving  the  wound  not  fatal  (as  the  ball  was  afterv^^ards 
found  on  the  outside  of  his  ribs)  fell  upon  him  like  blood- 
hounds, and  with  a  club  and  breech  of  the  pistol  mangled  and 
lacerated  his  head  in  a  most  savage  and  barbarous  manner. 
The  upper  part  of  his  head  over  the  cerebrum,  and  also  over  his 
left  eye,  was  indented  with  wounds,  evidently  made  with  the 
cock  of  the  pistol,  and  the  back  part,  against  the  cerebellum, 
was  all  mashed  to  a  pulp.  They  beat  him  till  the  guard  of  the 
pistol  flew  off  and  the  ramrod  was  knocked  out,  which  were 
afterwards  found  lying  on  the  fatal  spot.  Having  thus  far 
gratified   their  infernal   disposition,    they   robbed   him   of   his 


184  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

pocket-book  (how  much  money  it  contained  we  are  not  able  to 
inform),  then  threw  him  over  the  wall,  dragged  him  a  few  rods 
to  Chicopee  river,  and  there  deposited  him,  and  placed  large 
fiat  stones  upon  his  head  to  prevent  his  rising.  Without  delay 
they  next  conveyed  the  horse  through  a  small  piece  of  wood  to 
a  sequestered  enclosure,  and  then  turned  him  loose,  with  saddle, 
saddle-bags  and  bridle  on,  and  then  went  on.  Soon  after  the 
horse  was  found  and  taken  up;  the  neighbors  conjectured  he 
had  by  accident  gotten  away  from  some  place  where  his  rider 
had  hitched  him,  and  supposed  that  inquiry  would  soon  be 
made  for  him,  it  being  Saturday  in  the  afternoon.  They 
waited  till  Sunday  morning  but,  alas !  no  rider  appeared !  The 
alarm  spread.  The  woods,  fields,  and  every  bye  comer  were 
searched,  and  at  evening  they  found  the  corpse  close  by  the 
edge  of  the  river,  with  all  his  clothes  on,  mittens  on  his  hands, 
and  his  great  coat  wrapped  about  his  head,  with  a  large  stone 
pressing  him  to  the  bottom.  The  pistol  was  found  on  the  brink, 
broken  to  pieces.  The  young  man's  hat,  new  and  unharmed 
was  discovered  under  a  small  bridge,  near  the  spot.  The  corpse 
was  conveyed  to  a  neighboring  house,  and  the  inhabitants  paid 
that  peculiar  attention  which  sympathy  alone  can  dictate  and 
gratitude  reward.  The  remains  were  conveyed  to  Woodstock 
on  Tuesday,  and  the  funeral  attended  on  Wednesday,  when  the 
Rev.  Abiel  Ledoyt  addressed  the  assembly  from  Mark  13.  33: 
The  grief  of  the  mourners,  the  numbers  convened,  and  the 
tears  that  profusely  flowed,  presented  a  scene  which  we  con- 
clude has  never  had  a  parallel  in  these  our  inland  towns.  The 
villains  who  perpetrated  the  awful  crime  are  supposed  to  be 
two  foreigners  in  sailors  dress,  who  were  seen  that  day  by  a 
number  of  people  making  their  way  towards  Springfield.  One 
particular  circumstance  tends  much  to  strengthen  the  sus- 
picion. A  lad,  about  13  years  of  age,  being  sent  after  some 
hogs  in  the  woods,  near  the  place  of  the  murder,  happened  to 
come  out  into  the  road,  within  two  or  three  rods  of  two  men  in 
sailor  habit.  He  declared  under  oath  before  the  jury  of  inquest, 
that  before  he  got  out  of  sight  of  them,  he  saw  one  mount  the 
same  horse  which  was  afterwards  found,  and  ride  him  up  the 
hill  into  the  woods,  while  the  other  stood  with  a  new  cudgel  in 
his  hand  leaning  upon  the  wall.  The  same  persons,  according 
to  the  description,  were  soon  after  observed  travelling  in  great 
haste  towards  Springfield.  We  are  happy  to  learn  that  his 
excellency  Governor  Strong  issued  a  proclamation  offering  a 
reward  of  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  detection  of  the  villains, 
and  that  the  high  vSheriff  of  Hampshire  County  greatly  inter- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  185 

ested  himself  in  taking  measures  to  detect  them,  which  we 
learn  have  proved  effectual,  and  the  murderers  are  both  com- 
mitted to  gaol  in  Northampton." 

From  the  Massachusetts  Spv  (Worcester) 
June  25th  1806. 

"Execution  of  Daley  and  Halligan. 

"On  Thursday  last,  pursuant  to  their  sentence,  Dominick 
Daley  and  James  Halligan  were  executed  at  Northampton. 
At  half  past  10  o'clock  they  were  conducted  to  the  meeting 
house,  by  the  high  sheriff  and  his  deputies,  with  a  guard,  com- 
posed of  a  company  of  artillery  and  a  detatchment  of  militia. 
An  appropriate  and  eloquent  discourse  was  there  delivered  to  a 
very  crowded  auditory  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cheverus,  of  Boston, 
from  1  John  3  :  15.  'Whoever  hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer.' 
After  the  sermon  the  criminals  were  constantly  attended  by 
Mr  Cheverus,  with  whom,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time, 
they  appeared  to  be  engaged  in  prayer.  At  3  o'clock,  sentence 
was  executed  by  Major  General  Mattoon,  sheriff  of  the  county. 
Notwithstanding  their  protestations  of  innocence,  in  which 
they  persisted  to  the  last,  it  is  believed  that  of  the  15,000  sup- 
posed to  be  present,  scarcely  one  had  a  doubt  of  their  guilt. 
Daley  and  Halligan  were  natives  of  Ireland.  Daley  was 
about  34  years  of  age,  and  has  been  in  this  country  two 
years;  He  has  left  a  wife,  a  mother  and  a  brother  in  Boston. 
Halligan  was  about  27  years  of  age;  and  we  believe  has  no 
connections  in  this  country,  in  which  he  has  resided  for  four 
years." 

This  sad  affair  resulted  in  producing  a  long  and  realistic 
ballad,  of  which  many  knew  a  verse,  and  no  one  seemed  to 
know  it  all.  Miss  E.  O.  Beebe  has  procured  the  following 
version  of  the  quaint  old  rhyme. 


MARCUS  LYON  BALLAD 

Listen  to  me  and  hear  me  tell 
Of  a  young  man  and  what  him  befell; 
Of  his  hard  fate  now  take  a  view 
Most  solemn  and  affecting,  too. 


186  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

A  shocking  story  to  relate; 
He  on  his  way  from  New  York  state 
To  Woodstock,  to  his  native  home, 
As  far  as  Wilbraham  he  come. 

'Twas  some  past  noon  on  Saturday 
Two  ruffians  did  this  man  waylay. 
They  murdered  him  most  barbarously, 
Then  threw  him  in  the  river  nigh. 

A  boy  he  see  them  on  the  ground; 
Where  marks  of  violence  were  found. 
Blood  in  abundance  to  be  seen. 
He  tells  the  spot  describes  the  scene. 

He  see  them  lead  his  horse  away; 
The  horse  was  found  on  the  same  day. 
Then  constant  search  was  made  around ; 
No  owner  for  the  horse  was  found. 

On  Sunday  evening  lights  they  took 
Along  the  river  for  to  look — ; 
At  nine  o'clock  his  corpse  was  found 
With  a  huge  stone  to  hold  it  down. 

One  says  "Come  here,  I  something  see; 
A  dead  body  there  appears  to  be." 
And  to  it  did  attempt  to  get ; 
The  stone  slipped  from  oif  his  feet. 

The  stone  slipped  off,  there  did  arise 
A  bloody  corpse  before  their  eyes. 
Oh !  what  a  scene :  oh,  what  a  sight, 
For  to  behold  there  in  the  night. 

Four  rods  from  where  they  murdered  him 
They  threw  his  body  in  the  stream. 
One  hand  was  on  his  bruised  head; 
'Twas  thought  'twas  there  by  him  layed. 

They  in  the  current  did  place  him 
Upon  his  face,  his  head  upstream ; 
The  stone  they  did  upon  him  lay 
Upward  of  sixty  pounds  did  weigh. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  187 

A  jury  then  was  summoned, 

An  inquest  held  upon  the  murdered. 

His  skull  was  broke,  his  side  shot  through; 

His  face  disfigured  by  a  blow. 

Papers  with  him  did  plainly  show 
That  Woodstock  people  did  him  know. 
And  by  the  same  did  ascertain 
That  Marcus  Lyon  was  his  name. 

At  dead  of  night  the  people  sent 
This  heavy  news  unto  his  friend. 
Before  sunrise  his  mother  had 
News  of  her  son  being  murdered. 

His  mother  says  "Now  in  this  way, 
I  never  thought  my  son  to  see 
I've  husband  lost,  and  children  two; 
Trouble  like  this  I  never  knew." 

His  friends  then  after  him  they  went, 
Their  hearts  being  filled  with  discontent. 
Those  of  his  age  some  miles  did  go. 
His  corpse  to  meet,  respect  to  show. 

On  Wednesday  was  his  funeral. 
Hard-hearted  were  those  that  could  not  feel 
Such  bitter  mourning  never  was 
Viewing  the  corpse  and  then  the  cause. 

His  mother  lost  a  loving  son ; 

One  only  brother  left  alone. 

Three  sisters  to  lament  the  fate 

Of  their  dear  brother  who  died  of  late. 

Amongst  his  mourning  friends  we  find 
To  mourn  he  left  his  love  behind 
Who  did  expect  the  coming  spring 
In  mutual  love  to  marry  him. 

Forsaken  now,  disconsolate, 
Ofttimes  lamenting  his  hard  fate, 
She  wishes  and  she  weeps  again, 
Telling  their  cruelty  to  him. 


188  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

His  age  was  nearly  twenty-three; 
Was  kind  affectionate  and  free; 
Humane  benevolent  and  kind 
His  like  you  seldom  ever  find. 

A  pretty  youth  beloved  by  all, 
By  young  and  old,  by  great  and  small; 
By  rich  and  poor,  by  high  and  low. 
And  everv  one  that  did  him  know. 


Ezekiel  Terry,  from  whose  account  of  this  sad  tragedy  I  have 
copied  part  of  the  foregoing  account,  was  a  printer,  perhaps 
part  of  the  time  in  Wilbraham. 

I  have  been  loaned  a  bound  book,  consisting  mostly  of  a 
collection  of  orations  delivered  in  this  vicinity  by  different 
persons,  and  sometimes  printed  by  different  firms,  which  were 
collected  and  bound  in  one  book  by  Ezekiel  Terry.  He  lived 
for  a  time  on  the  Old  Bay  Road,  near  the  line  between  Palmer 
and  Wilbraham,  either  in  the  last  house  in  Wilbraham,  or  the 
first  one  in  Palmer. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in  Wilbra- 
ham, located  east  of  Glendale. 

About  1805,  he  had  printed  a  book  on  "Restoration,"  which 
was  not  in  accord  with  the  belief  of  the  church.  Several  meet- 
ings were  held  to  consider  the  matter,  and  on  March  8th,  1806, 
the  Church  "Voted  unamously  to  send  Ezeakel  terry  a  letter 
withdrawing  the  hand  of  fellowship  with  our  watch  and  care 
from  him  as  a  brother  in  the  Ch""  with  us."  They  evidentl}' 
thought  differently  about  it  in  a  short  time,  for,  on  January  10, 
1807,  the  record  reads; — "in  the  first  place  heard  Brother 
Ezikel  terry  Exk:nodgement  and  Voted  to  receive  him  again 
into  our  fellowship  as  a  member." 

Ezekiel  Terry  was  also  a  clergyman.  For,  in  a  list  of  ministers 
in  Wilbraham,  printed  in  "The  Massachusetts  Register  for  the 
year  1814,"  I  find  his  name  as  the  Baptist  minister. 

He  died  in  1829,  and  on  his  headstone  in  the  Deacon  Adams 
Cemetery,  the  name  reads  "Rev*^  Ezekiel  Terry."  His 
daughter,  Mary,  was  the  second  wife  of  James  C.  Pease,  and 


The  History  or  Wilbraham  189 

mother  of  Jerome  Pease,  one  of  the  oldest  men  now  in  our 
town . 

The  book  to  which  I  have  referred  is  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Homer  Tupper  of  Warren,  Mass. 

In  this  collection  I  find  a  few  items  of  interest  to  our  town,  as 
follows : 

AN  ORATION 

Pronounced  at  WILBRAHAM 

On  the  4'h  of  July  1810. 

BY  CALVIN  PEPPER 

Palmer    from    the    PRESS    of   E.  TERRY 


THE    TRIAL   OF  major   JOHN    ANDRE 

Adjutant-General  of  the  BRITISH  ARMY. 

September  29,  1780. 

PALMER 

Printed  by  EZEKIEL  TERRY. 

FOR   CAPT.  JAMES  WARNER,*  WILBRAHAM. 

1810 


The  Gospel  Rangers.! 

A 

SERMON  DELIVERED 

at  the  ORDINATION  OF 

Elder  Henry  Hale. 

BY  DANIEL  MERRILL,  A.M. 

Third  Edition 

WILBRAHAM 

Printed  By  TERRY  &  LEARNED 

1808 


*Capt.  James  Warner  was  a  son  of  "Clark"  Samuel  Warner. 

t  This  title  is  interesting  to  us  because  it  seems  to  have  been  printed  in  Wilbraham. 


190  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

There  is  also 

AN  EULOGY 

ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    THE    LATE 

GEN.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON 

Pronounced  at  Brookfield  on  the  22"^  of  Feb.  1800. 
BY  PLINY  MERRICK  Esq.* 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH    OF  THE    FIRST  METHODIST 
SOCIETY  ORGANIZED  IN  WILBRAHAM 

In  1791,  the  Methodist  preachers  on  Hartford  circuit  visited 
the  South  Parish,  once  in  two  weeks  and  held  meetings,  first, 
in  Abner  Chapin's  kitchen,  then  in  the  schoolhouse.  Some 
time  in  that  year  Charles  Brewer  heard  one  of  them,  Menzies 
Raynor,  preach.  He  was  deeply  interested,  and  invited  him 
to  visit  the  North  Parish  and  preach  there.  He  consented  to 
do  so  the  next  time  he  came  round  the  circuit,  on  condition  that 
Mr.  Brewer  and  others  would  protect  him  and  his  colleague, 
Lemuel  Smith,  in  case  any  violence  should  be  offered  them. 
Two  weeks  later,  Lemuel  Smith  preached  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  in  the  North  Parish.  On  August  29th,  1791,  the  first 
Parish  "Voted  that  the  Meeting  House  be  moved  on  Charles 
Brewers  lot  the  first  day  of  May  next."  Three  weeks  later,  or 
on  September  12th,  1791,  "Voted  to  rescind  the  vote  about 
setting  the  Meeting  House  on  Charles  Brewers  lot."  The 
action  of  the  parish  in  voting  not  to  move  the  Meeting  House 
onto  his  lot  was  very  grievous  to  Mr.  Brewer,  and  on  December 
28,  1792,  he  and  twelve  others  withdrew  from  the  first  parish, 
and  probably  coinmenced  the  formation  of  the  Methodist 
Society,  and  soon  begun  the  erection  of  the  first  methodist 
meeting  house  on  the  same  ground  where  the  building  is  now 
standing. 


*  Pliny  Merrick  was  a  .son  of  Rev.  Noah  Merrick  of  Wilbraham. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


191 


On  December  20,  1794,  he  gave  a  lease  of  the  ground  to  the 
Society.    I  copy  part  of  the  document. 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  Charles  Brewer  of 
Wilbraham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  Joiner  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  one  pepper  com  paid  me  yearly  and  every  year  by 
the  Methodist  Society  in  Wilbraham  so  called  have  and  by 
these  presents  do  demise  Lease  &  to  farm  ( ?)  let  unto  Abel  Bliss 
of  said  Wilbraham,  yeoman  Agent  for  and  in  behalf  of  said 


FIRST  METHODIST  MEETING    HOUSE. 
1794  to  1835. 


Society  for  and  during  the  continuance  of  said  Society  in  said 
place  the  land  hereafter  mentioned  and  described  lying  and 
being  in  s"*  Wilbraham  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  road 
s"^  land  being  part  of  said  Charles's  home  lot  and  whereon  the 
meeting  house  stands." 

One  of  the  interesting  things  in  this  lease,  is  the  insignificance 
of  the  consideration  to  be  paid  annually  by  the  Society.  "One 
pepper  com." 


192 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


In  Bishop  Asbury's  Journal,  under  the  date  of  Sunday, 
August  17th,  1794,  there  is  the  following  entry.  "1  came  to 
the  new  chapel  at  Wilbraham,  forty  by  thirty-four  feet,  neatly 
designed  ....  I  preached  to  about  four  hundred  people  .... 

"The   'Standing  Order'   have  moved  their  house  into  the 

street  not  far  from  ours."    There  is  much  more  in  the  journal, 

but  I  have  only  quoted  what  seemed  to  be  of  some  historical 

\      importance.     Charles  Brewer  died  in   1836.     The  inscription 


OLD  BREWER  INN  SIGN. 


on  his  monument,  in  the  Woodland  Dell  Cemetery  reads,  "Mr 
Charles  Brewer  was  the  first  person  who  introduced  Methodism 
into  this  parish,  and  his  house  was  made  the  home  of  Methodism 
and  Methodist  Preachers,  and  a  place  for  preaching  for  the 
two  years  following." 

He  was  the  first  child  to  be  baptized  in  the  meeting  house  on 
Wigwam  Hill,  December  28,  1748.  It  is  a  strange  coincidence 
that  the  first  child  baptized  in  the  meeting  house  of  the  "stand- 
ing order,"  .should,  about  forty-five  years  later,  be  the  first 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  193 

person  to  introduce  another  denomination.  He  lived  on  the 
west  side  of  our  Main  Street,  about  14  rods  north  of  Springfield 
Street  and  kept  an  Inn  there.  The  sign  that  hung  in  front  of 
his  place,  and  which  was  painted  in  1810,  is  still  in  existence, 
and  is  displayed  there  this  anniversary  day.  The  house  in 
which  he  lived,  was  taken  down  in  1893,  and  a  new  one  erected, 
which  has  since  been  my  home. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  1794,  the  New  England  M.  E. 
Conference,  consisting  then  of  about  a  dozen  members,  con- 
vened in  the  new  chapel.  The  conference,  though  small,  had 
mighty  men  in  its  ranks.  Jesse  Lee,  Geo.  Roberts,  Wilson  Lee, 
Daniel  Ostrander,  Geo.  Pickering,  Enoch  Mudge,  Joshua 
Taylor,  and  Joshua  Hall  were  there;  men  whose  influence  on 
the  churches  of  New  England  can  never  be  effaced,  and  ought 
never  to  be  forgotten.  Francis  Asbury  presided.  Saturday 
was  the  great  day  of  the  feast.  The  three  principal  men  of  the 
occasion,  Asbury,  Roberts,  and  Jesse  Lee,  preached  with  power 
to  the  multitude  that  thronged  to  hear  them. 

The  New  England  Conference  again  held  its  session  in  this 
church,  in  the  year  1797  and  on  the  one  hundredth  anniversary 
of  that  session  in  1897,  the  Conference  was  held  in  the  Methodist 
Church  in  this  town.  And  on  June  7th,  1826,  the  Conference 
was  held  in  this  church. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Legislature  in  1795  for 
incorporation,  as  follows: 

"Petition  For  Methodist  Society  In  Wilbraham 

"Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
•"To   the   Hon'''    Senate   and   House   of    Representatives  in 
General  Court  assembled  in  Boston,  on  the  fourteenth  Day  of 
January,   in   the   year   of   our   Lord   Seventeen   hundred   and 
ninetv-five. 

"Humbly  show  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Wilbraham, 
in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  that,  Your  Petitioners  are  of  the 
Denomination  of  Christians  called  Methodists,  and  are  con- 
scientiously of  the  persuasion ;  and  are  of  Sufficient  number  and 
Ability  to  support  a  Teacher,  and  defray  the  Expenses  of 
upholding  pubHc  Worship  among  themselves;  they  therefore 
pray  that  they  may  be  admitted  to  the  Rights  and  Benefits  of 


194  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

the  Constitution  in  this  Respect;  that  they,  and  such  others  as 
may  here  after  join  them,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  prescribed 
by  Law,  may  be  incorporated  into  a  Parish,  by  the  Name  of 
the  Methodist  Parish  in  Wilbraham,  and  be  invested  with  the 
Powers,  Privileges,  and  Rights  which  by  the  Law  and  Consti- 
tution of  this  Commonwealth,  Parishes  ought  to  have  and 
enjoy. 

"And  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  pray. 

"Lemuel  Smith,  Elder  in  the     Robert  Coffin. 

Methodist  Church.  Justice  Stebbins. 

Abel  Bliss.  Asa  Jones 

Charles  Brewer.  Ezra  Barker,  Jr. 

Silas  Bliss.  Matthew  Grover. 

Ephraim  Fuller.  Aaron  Frost. 

Gains  Brewer.  Frederick  Stebbins. 

John  Russell.  Abner  S.  Brewer. 

Augustus  Sisson.  Joseph  Abbot. 

Phineas  Stebbins.  Anson  Brewer 

Moses  K.  Bartlet.  Cesar  Tyler 

Ethan  Warriner.  Abner  Chapin. 

Solomon  Warriner,  Jr.  William  Sweetser?  Brewer. 

Elijah  Stebbins.  Elisha  Walden. 

Cyrus  Stebbins.  John  Loud. 

Walter  Stebbins.  Thomas  Howard. 

James  Hammond.  Timothy  Stebbins." 
Abel  Bliss,  Jr. 

This  Petition  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Parishes, 
which  reported  January  31,  1795,  the  usual  order,  notifying 
"the  several  parishes"  in  town,  "that  they  appear  and  show 
cause,  if  any  they  have,  why  the  prayer  of  said  Petition  should 
not  be  granted,"  at  the  first  session  of  the  next  General  Court, 
to  be  holden  in  May  and  June  following. 

The  South  Parish  made  answer,  June  12,  1795,  by  "John 
Bliss  and  Phinehas  Stebbins,  that  the  parish  have  made  no 
objections  against  the  prayer  of  the  petition  being  granted." 

The  North  Parish  by  their  Committee,  James  Shaw,  Reuben 
Sikes,  and  Chileab  B.  Merrick,  made  an  elaborate  reply  to  the 
petition.  They  represent,  that  on  the  division  of  the  town  into 
two  parishes,  the  meeting  house  was  one  mile  south  of  the 
centre  of  the  parish,   and  that  they  could  not  persuade  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  195 

owner  to  sell  the  central  lot  on  which  all  were  agreed;  that 
while  they  were  waiting,  the  roof  of  the  meeting  house  became 
so  leaky  as  to  render  its  use  and  preservation  impossible,  and 
that  they  permitted  it  to  be  new  shingled  at  expense  of  indi- 
viduals; that  this  "exasperated  the  leading  and  principal  part 
of  your  petitioners  to  a  great  degree ;  they  accordingly  assembled 
and  entered  into  a  solemn  written  agreement  to  separate  from 
the  parish,  be  no  longer  connected  with  them,  and  formed 
themselves  into  a  distinct  society,  as  they  termed  it;  the  next 
Sabboth  they  went  in  a  body,  headed  by  one  of  the  principal 
Baptists  in  the  parish,  to  the  Baptist  meeting;  they  fell  off 
gradually,  and  at  length  all  left  that  meeting;  at  this  time  not 
one  of  them  had  ever  heard  a  Methodist  preacher;  but  the 
preachers  of  that  order,  ever  willing  to  fish  in  muddy  water, 
came  among  them;  they  swallowed  the  bait,  and  are  now  as 
they  say  conscientious  Methodists;"  that  soon  after,  a  number 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  said  parish  ' '  met  and  invited  the 
petitioners  to  attend  and  give  their  reasons  for  their  conduct; 
that  they  came  and  said,  that  if  we  would  dismiss  our  Minister 
(who  by  this  time  they  had  taken  a  dislike  to),  and  remove  the 
Meeting-house  they  would  give  up  all  thoughts  of  a  separation;" 
but  a  contract  had  been  made  with  the  minister  and  could  not 
be  annulled  without  his  consent;  yet  they  would  remove  the 
meeting-house  just  as  soon  as  possible,  "using  all  exertion 
within  the  bounds  of  reason.  .  .  .  More  than  a  year  ago  the 
selected  spot  was  obtained,  a  meeting-house  has  been  built 
just  where  they  wanted  it,  the  minister  has  been  dismissed  at 
his  request,  mostly,  as  he  said,  on  'account  of  these  people;' 
yet  they  are  as  far  from  being  satisfied  as  ever."  The  respond- 
ents also  say  that  ' '  more  than  six  of  the  petitioners  are  minors ; 
Cesar,  the  negro,  is  a  transient  person,  already  out  of  the 
State;  Lemuel  Smith,  who  in  the  petition  styles  himself  their 
elder,  is  not  here  but  once  a  month,  nor  that  much  of  the  time; 
and  will  not  stay  long  probably;  Grover  has  left  the  State; 
two  others  wish  they  had  not  signed  the  petition ;  so  that  there 
are  only  twenty-five  of  any  weight.  Their  ability  may  be 
known  by  the  portion  they  pay  of  the  town  tax:    that  tax  is 


196  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

£136  Is.  2d.;  they  pay  £14  4s.  5d."  They  forbear  to  draw- 
any  inferences  and  leave  the  whole  subject  to  the  General 
Court. 

To  this,  the  petitioners  reply,  June  6,  1795,  by  their  Com- 
mittee, Gains  Brewer,  John  Russel,  and  Ephraim  Fuller,  in 
substance  as  follows: 

"That  shingling  the  meeting-house  is  but  one  cause;  they 
were  forever  opposed  to  the  settlement  of  their  minister,  and 
threw  in  their  objections  before  his  ordination,  yet  he  was 
settled  in  spite  of  the  remonstrance  of  twenty-seven  persons; 
they  never  consented  to  return  but  utterly  refused  to  do  so  on 
any  condition;  Nor  did  their  minister  ask  a  dismission  on  our 
account,  but  because  his  health  was  so  poor  that  he  could  not 
continue;  nor  is  Lemuel  Smith  absent  from  us  as  they  say, — 
his  family  is  here,  and  when  he  is  removed  another  minister  will 
come.  There  are  but  five  minor  petitioners,  and  they  are 
'capable  of  choosing  and  practising  the  truth.'  No  one  wishes 
his  name  taken  off.  As  nearly  all  of  us  are  of  the  North  Parish, 
it  is  not  just  to  estimate  our  ability  by  the  town  Tax;  the 
Parish  tax  for  building  the  Meeting-House  is  £343,  and  we 
pay  £90.  We  are  not  fickle,  nor  do  our  ministers  'fish  in 
muddy  water.'  " 

''The  parish  voted,  February  14,  1794,  that  all  who  belonged 
to  the  Methodists  should  be  exempt  from  taxes,  but  afterwards 
changed,  and  rated  the  Methodists  to  build  their  meeting- 
house, when  they  had  their  own  to  build  and  a  minister  to 
support.     They  submit  their  case: 

"  'Not  doubting  but  your  Honors  feel  the  spirit  of  republican- 
ism, that  liberty,  civil  and  religious,  might  be  established  within 
the  American  shores.'  " 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  not  passed  at  that  time. 

"We  learn  nothing  farther  of  special  interest  in  the  history  of 
this  church  till  1814,  when  a  camp-meeting  was  held.  The 
following  year  another  was  held.  These  meetings  were  a  great 
blessing  to  the  church.  Its  members  were  quickened  in  spiritual 
life,  a  large  accession  made  to  its  numbers,  and  the  attention 
of  the  community  aroused  and  called  to  the  subject  of  religion. 
Inspirited  by  this  influence,  they  immediately  raised  money 
enough,  not  only  to  finish  the  church  in  comfortable  style,  but 
had  about  three  hundred  dollars  remaining  in  the  treasury. 
At  this  time  a  stove  was  procured  for  warming  the  house.  This 
was  a  great  innovation  on  the  customs  of  the  age;   and  not  till 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  197 

a  number  of  years  afterwards  did  any  other  church  in  town 
follow  this  example." 

An  act  of  incorporation  was  probably  passed  at  the  session 
of  the  Legislature  in  1832,  and  the  first  corporate  meeting  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society  was  organized  under  a  warrant 
issued  by  William  Knight,  Esq.,  of  Wilbraham,  at  the  petition 
of  Abraham  Avery  and  ten  others,  and  was  held  in  the  Methodist 
meeting  house,  August  29th,  1832. 

In  September,  1833,  A.  Avery  circulated  a  subscription  paper 
among  the  members  of  the  society,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
stock  in  shares  of  fifty  dollars  each,  to  build  a  new  meeting 
house.  Thirty-three  shares  having  been  taken,  it  was  agreed  to 
proceed  to  build  a  house  forty-two  by  sixty  feet  with  a  tower. 
The  society  voted  to  purchase  slips  to  the  amount  of  its  funds, 
some  three  hundred  dollars. 

William  Famham  was  the  builder,  after  a  plan  furnished  by 
Rev.  John  Lindsey,  of  Boston. 

The  cost  of  the  house  was  limited  to  three  thousand  dollars, 
except  for  the  steps,  bell,  and  some  outside  expenses.  And  the 
house  cost  within  the  limit.  It  was,  by  the  contract,  to  have 
been  finished  by  the  20th  of  October,  1834;  but  was  not  com- 
pleted till  May  of  the  following  year.  It  was  dedicated  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Fisk  about  the  19th  of  May,  1835. 

In  relation  to  the  building  of  this  meeting  house  I  have  copied 
a  few  items  from  the  records  of  the  society. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  held  January  1st,  1834:  "On 
motion  of  Mr.  Foster,  voted  that  the  committee  be  instructed 
to  sell  the  old  Meeting-House,  and  the  avails  thereof  be  laid  out 
for  stock  in  a  new  Meeting-House." 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  "that  the  Three  Hundred 
Dollars  given  by  Moses  K.  Bartlett  deceased,  should  be  laid 
out  for  stock  in  a  new  Meeting-House  by  the  Committee." 
(Moses  K.  Bartlett  died  October  29th,  1819.) 

At  a  meeting  held  April  24th,  1834,  Wm.  S.  Smith  and  Wm. 
E.  Brewer  were  chosen  a  committee  to  obtain  subscriptions 
for  the  meeting  house  in  contemplation,  to  be  invested  in  free 


198  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

seats.  On  May  22,  1835,  voted  that  the  "committee  be  in- 
structed to  sell  the  Old  Meeting-House  for  any  sum  not  less 
than  three  hundred  and  fifty  Dollars."  August  1st,  1835,  the 
price  was  reduced  to  three  hundred  Dollars. 

Probably  the  meeting,  August  1st,  1835,  was  the  last  meeting 
of  the  society  in  the  old  meeting  house.  The  record  for  the 
next  meeting  begins : 

"  Doings  of  a  Parish  Meeting  held  on  Thursday  the  21st  day 
of  April  instant  A.  D.  1836.  held  at  New  Church  of  the  M.  E. 
Society  of  N.  W." 

"Voted  that  the  Society  accept  of  the  doings  of  their  Com- 
mittee in  the  negotiation  with  A.  L.  Brewer  for  the  old  House." 
May  5,  1836:  "Voted  that  the  Prudential  Committee  be 
instructed  to  examine  the  old  slips,  steps  &  Pulpit  &c,  in  the 
Old  House,  and  if  thought  best  to  reserve  &  remove  the  same 
before  the  sale  of  the  House." 

The  house  was  sold  to  Anson  L.  Brewer,  and  the  ground  on 
which  it  stood,  which  it  will  be  remembered  was  leased  to  the 
society,  was  sold  by  Charles  Brewer  to  Anson  L.  Brewer, 
Esq.,  of  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  October  23rd,  1835,  and  on  October 
28,  1841,  it  was  sold  to  Wm.  W.  Merrick  and  remained  in 
his  possession,  and  that  of  his  estate  for  67  years,  or  until  1908, 
when  it  was  sold  according  to  the  provisions  of  his  will,  and  is 
now  in  my  possession. 

Twenty-five  cents  postage  was  paid  on  the  letter  which 
brought  the  Deed  from  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  to  Wilbraham. 

In  order  to  raise  funds,  the  society  sold  pews  or  slips  to 
individuals  by  deeds  which  are  recorded  in  the  clerk's  book. 
The  first  on  the  record  is  for  ' '  Pew  or  Slip  numbered  fifty  one 
in  the  Meeting  House  lately  erected  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Society  in  the  north 
parish  of  Wilbraham,"  to  "Samuel  Warner  for  Sixty  Dollars." 
Dated  June  20th,  1835.  If  an  individual  sold  his  "Pew  or 
Slip"  to  some  other  person,  the  deed  was  recorded  in  the 
clerk's  book. 

It  seems  that  Clark  B.  Stebbins  owned  a  pew  in  the  church 
in  1845,  and  in  that  year  the  Chicopee  Bank  of  Springfield 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  199 

obtained  a  judgment  against  him  for  the  sum  of  $515.95,  and 
the  sheriff  attatched  his  pew,  No.  27,  which  was  appraised  by 
"three  disinterested  and  discreet  men"  to  be  worth  "sixty -five 
dollars."  The  record  of  the  whole  transaction  covers  two  pages 
in  the  clerk's  book,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  society  began 
to  devise  measures  to  eliminate  such  conditions,  and  on  March 
17,  1851,  they  chose  "John  M.  Merrick,  Sam'  Warner,  Joel  M. 
Lyman,  a  committee  to  consider  the  expediency  &  practicability 
of  buying  the  slips  of  the  Proprietors." 

March  29th,  1843:  Joel  M.  Lyman,  P.  P.  Potter,  Wm.  E. 
Brewer  were  "chosen  a  committee  to  see  if  Land  can  be  obtained 
on  which  to  build  Horse  Sheds." 

April  7th,  1843:  "Voted  that  the  society  hold  meetings  on 
sabbath  days  only  by  day  light  &  on  no  other  occasions  except 
extraordinary  ones." 

March  30,  1847:  "Voted  to  purchase  2  cords  of  pine  wood, 
3  feet  long,  at  2.50  per  cord,  and  2  cords  of  oak  wood,  3  feet 
long  at  2.87  per  cord. 

At  the  meeting  held  on  April  7,  1849,  Mr.  Lane  and  Wm.  E. 
Brewer  were  chosen  "a  committee  to  draw  a  plan  and  make  an 
estimate  for  a  parsonage." 

March  31,  1851:  "Voted  to  raise  five  hundred  Dollars  to 
raise  this  house  &  finish  off  the  Vestry."  April  16,  1851,  "Porter 
Cross,  Samuel  Warner,  John  M.  Merrick  be  a  committee  to 
raise  the  house  and  finish  off  the  vestry." 

May  10th,  1851:  "Voted  that  the  committee  be  authorized 
to  procure  a  furnace  provided  they  in  their  judgement  think 
proper. ' ' 

March  19,  1855:  a  committee  was  chosen  "to  try  to  secure 
land  for  a  parsonage  &  horse  sheds." 

At  the  same  meeting  J.  W.  Bliss  was  chosen  a  committee 
"to  see  what  can  be  done  towards  raising  money  for  the  organ." 

A  parsonage  was  probably  secured  in  1856.  The  meeting 
house  remained  as  a  place  for  worship  until  about  1868,  when 
it  was  removed  off  to  the  east,  onto  the  Academy  grounds  and 


200  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

has,  for  part  of  the  time  since,  been  used  by  the  Academy  for 
a  music  hall  and  for  a  gymnasium.  The  erection  of  the  stone 
church  was  commenced  in  1867  and  it  was  formally  opened  with 
a  sermon  by  Dr.  Miner  Raymond  in  midsummer  in  1870.  The 
total  cost  was  nearly  $45,000.  The  bell  was  given  to  the 
society  by  Col.  Benjamin  Butler,  who  lived  on  the  Bay  Road, 
in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  and  the  funds  for  the  pur- 
chase of  the  clock  in  the  tower  were  secured  by  subscriptions 
from  many  different  persons. 

WILBRAHAM'S  FIRST  METHODIST  CHURCH 
[Built  in  1794  and  now  used  as  a  dwelling.] 

In  1912,  Mrs.  William  P.  Allis,  80  years  old,  then  and  now 
living  in  that  ancient  building,  wrote  the  following  poem: 

THE  HISTORIC  CHURCH  AT  WILBRAHAM 
1794—1835 

A  structure  of  colonial  pride, 

It  stands  upon  the  village  street 
'  In  ancient  grace  and  stateliness 

Its  high  square  sides  and  angles  meet. 

No  turret  tower  for  bell  designed, 

Nor  useless  lines  might  art  bestow ; 
Nor  Pynchon  gables,  Hawthorne  styled, 
Could  this  quaint  roof,  unbroken  show. 

Consigned  within  these  sacred  walls. 
Where  altar  offerings  once  were  laid. 

Bright  memories  their  full  records  hold. 
Silent,  but  true  to  Wesleyan's  shade. 

Historic  trees  fit  canopy  formed 

For  worship  on  its  native  sod ; 
Where  youth  and  age  together  walked, 
Devoutly  walked  and  worshiped  God. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  201 

Still  beautiful  the  shadows  fall 

On  church  and  consecrated  soil, 
And  side  by  side,  the  new  and  old. 

Are  vet  the  same  in  love  and  toil. 


When  Wesley  an  zeal  most  brightly  burned. 
This  valley  claimed  her  noted  best; 

The  Prince  of  Saints  his  rights  confirmed. 
And  Weslev's  name  was  fitlv  blessed. 


In  connection  with  the  camp  meetings  held  by  this  society, 
I  insert  the  following,  copied  from  an  account  book  of  Stephen 
Newell. 

"A  DREAM 

"I  saw  and  behold  People  were  gathered  Together  on  the 
top  of  a  delightsome  Spatious  hill  where  there  were  a  number 
of  high  Lofty  Towering  Steeples  bright  and  shining  arranged 
along  and  on  the  vast  tops  were  people  clothed  in  white  who 
stood  upright  and  gave  out  the  word  hymn  or  tune  and  the 
people  below  burst  into  song. 

So  I  awoke     Aug.  l?'^'  1795." 

In  different  writing  follows: 

"I  conclude  this  was  fulfilled  in  the  Camp  ground  at  Wil- 
braham." 

I  insert  another  item  from  the  same  source. 

"  CONTEMPLATIONS 

"Again  we  have  been  taught  that  it  will  be  a  great  consola- 
tion to  Saints  in  heaven  to  see  the  dammed  in  hell  plased  nigh 
in  full  view  and  that  it  will  greatly  promote  their  hapiness  and 
it  will  set  in  Clear  Light  the  compassion  of  God  and  Christ. 

"Such  a  preacher  never  had  a  distant  Idea  of  the  happiness 
of  heaven  or  of  what  it  consisted  of  he  never  has  known  Jesus 
nor  the  ways  of  Salvation  never  has  one  taste  of  the  Love  of 
Jesus  nor  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come." 

"Tbose   Preachers   are  alwavs  on  the  dark   side    They  do 


202  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

not   Penetrate   so   far   into   heaven   as   their   mind  doth  into 
Hell." 

The  camp  meetings,  to  which  refference  has  been  made,  were 
probably  held  in  the  grove,  which  then  covered  the  hill,  about 
sixty  or  eighty  rods  easterly  of  the  present  Grace  Church  at 
North  Wilbraham. 

Camp  meetings  were  held  there  by  several  societies,  on  dif- 
ferent weeks,  for  many  years.  The  Millerites  or  "Adventists," 
as  they  are  now  called,  held  camp  meetings  there,  until  they 
moved  to  their  present  location  in  Springfield.  Also,  I  think, 
a  negro  society  held  meetings  there  for  a  few  seasons.  The 
grove  was  also  used  for  Sunday  school  picnics. 

On  August  24,  1857,  the  Springfield  District  of  the  Methodist 
Conference,  began  to  hold  camp  meetings  in  Collins  Grove, 
on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Collins  Manufacturing 
Company's  mill,  and  boarding  houses.  The  ground  was  leased 
at  $1.00  per  year,  and  the  meetings  were  held  there  for  seven 
years  until  1864;  then  they  were  held  at  Hatfield  until  1872, 
when  the  present  location  at  Laurel  Park,  Northampton,  was 
secured. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  BAPTIST  CHURCH 
AT  COLTON  HOLLOW 

I  have  mentioned  that  the  year  1794  seems  to  have  been 
filled  with  religious  activity  in  our  town.  The  business  of 
moving  the  first  meeting  house  down  from  Wigwam  Hill,  the 
building  of  the  Methodist  meeting  house  on  our  Main  Street, 
were  both  going  on  at  that  time.  And  in  addition,  a  Baptist 
society  was  gathering  over  on  the  mountain,  easterly  of  Glen- 
dale,  in  a  locality  now  known  as  "Colton  Hollow,"  consisting 
of  residents  of  both  Wilbraham  and  Monson,  and  partly  of 
persons  who  were  already  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
East  Wilbraham,  of  which  Elder  Seth  Clark  was  pastor. 

The  following  is  a  copy  from  the  records  of  this  Church 
society,  now  in  possession  of  Sumner  Smith  of  Hampden. 

First  leaf  of  records  is  almost  gone. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  203 

"7*^  Day  1794. 
comer  of  ' '  Then  met  according  to 

leaf  gone  adjournment — and  in  the 

first  place  proceeded  in  the 
matter  concerning  the  gifts  or 
qualifications  of  Deacons  and  found 
the  Ch*"  not  ripe  for  action  at  this 
time. 

"21y  Considered  the  matter  as  to  the 
Sacrement  and  voted  to  have  it  as  often 
as  once  in  Eight  weeks. 

(Rest  of  the  leaf  gone) 

(On  next  leaf) 

" and  found   that   the  minds  of   the    Ch^   sentered   on 

Brother  Israel  Bennet  Consequently  unamoslly  voted  that 
Brother  Israel  Bennet  Be  first  Deacon  in  this  Ch"^.  Then  pro- 
ceeded to  no  What  the  work  of  a  Deacon  was  not  having  time 
at  this  meeting  Voted  to  Ajoum  the  meeting  to  Thursday  the 
15  Day  of  May  Next  at  Nathan  Peases  at  one  of  the  clock  p.  m. 
This  meeting  is  Ajourned. 

"May  the  15  Day  1794  the  Ch''  met  acording  to  Ajoumment 
....  then  proceed  in  the  Labour  Conseming  the  work  of  a 
Deacon  after  inuch  time  spent  in  Labour  come  to  no  Conclusion 
then  voted  to  Ajoum  the  meeting  to  Thursday  may  the  29'^ 
Day  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.  at  Nathan  Peases. 

"May  29  Met  according  to  Ajournment  ....  concluded  to 
take  up  the  qualifycations  office  And  work  of  a  Deacon  in  their 
order  as  they  stand  pinted  out  in  Scripture — as  set  forth  Acts 
6-3-5.  Tim  3  from  3  to  12.  Qualifications  of  a  Deacon  (abbre- 
viated) Aught  to  be  honest — Full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  a  man  of 
Gravity  and  Soberiety — a  Man  of  Faith — open  hearted — not 
close  fisted  or  greedy  of  filthy  lucre. 

"giy  We  believe  that  a  deacon  ought  to  be  The  Husband  of 
but  one  wife  ruling  well  his  own  children  and  house  Hold  and 
that  their  wives  ought  to  be  sober  grave  and  faithful  in  all  things. 

"Then  2'^  Voted  to  send  to  the  following  Ch""^  to  see  if  we 
might  obtain  their  fellowship  (Vis)  Suffield  Wilbraham  and 
Infield  to  meet  in  Conference  at  Bro.  Nathan  Peases  Wednesday 
the  2"'!  day  of  July  at  10  of  the  clock,  m. 

"Wilbraham  July  the  2"^^  Day  1794.  At  the  request  of  a 
number  of  Bretheren  members  of  the  Baptist  church  under  the 
Pastoral  care  of  Elder  Seth  Clark  who  propose  to  Incorporate 


204  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

into  a  Destinct  Church  Met  in  Council  at  the  DwelHng  house 
of  Mr  Nathan  Pease  Elders  and  members  from  the  following 
Churches.  (Suffield,  Enfield,  names  given,  3  from  each)  (Wil- 
braham) Elder  Seth  Clark  and  Brothers  Joseph  Butler  Noah 
Polk  ( ?)  Josiah  Hill  Zadock  Bebee  Samuel  Miner — made  choice 
of  Elder  John  Hastings  moderator,  Ephraim  (?)  Robins  clerk. — 
proceeded  to  hear  S'^  Bretheren  Relate  the  Standing  of  their 
minds  with  regard  to  Ipeing  set  off  into  a  Ch^  State,  the  Concil 
Being  by  themselves  and  Deliberated  on  the  matter  and  after 
mature  Consideration  the  Concil  were  of  opinion  that  it  will 
be  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Cause  of  God  that  they  be  Con- 
sidered as  a  distinct  Church  and  this  Concil  give  them  fellow- 
ship as  such  under  the  Appillation  of  the  2"^^  Baptist  Church 
in  Wilbraham. 

"Sin''    By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Concil 

John  Hastings   moderator 

"Attest  Ephriam  (?)  Robins   Clerk 

"  March  24'h  1795 
(Church  meeting)  "to  hear  a  complaint  of  Sister  Mary 
purches  (?)  against  Brother  Aron  Chapin  consisting  of  two 
Charges  (?)  P'  that  Brother  Chapin  took  some  sheep  of  her 
and  Declined  to  give  her  security  therefor  to  her  satisfaction. 
2'y  that  in  paying  the  Rent  for  the  sheep  the  wool  was  not 
Equil  to  Contract.  (The  Church  considered  the  matter  and 
reported  what  Brother  Chapen  ought  to  do,  and  appointed  a 
committee  of  four  to  settle  any  dispute  between  them  in  the 
future.     Nothing  else  done.     Meeting  disolved) 

"Oct  23''  1799.  A  number  of  Christian  people  of  the  Baptist 
Denomination  met  at  Nathan  Peases  for  the  purpose  of  Col- 
lecting their  minds  concerning  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  and 
travel  of  their  minds  present  Elder  Seth  Clark  Elder  Stephen 
Shepard  (and  others)  then  sought  to  find  the  union  Between 
Elder  Clarks  members  and  others  in  the  worship  and  found 
aGreement — then  went  into  the  labour  to  see  how  many  Could 
commune  to  Gether  and  found  Forteen  members  that  was  free 
to  commune. — Voted  to  send  a  letter  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
day  to  Elder  Clarks  Church  which  is  as  follows. 

"A  number  of  Bretheren  who  met  in  their  worship  at  Brother 
Peases  to  the  Baptist  Church  of  Christ  in  Wilbraham  to  whom  we 
are  connected  (&c) — We  would  inform  you  that  Elder  Clark 
Deacon  Elisha  Cleveland  ( ?)  and  a  number  of  your  Bretheren 
here  together  with  ourselves  this  day  had  a  Blessed  interview  in 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  205 

a  free  Conference  at  Brother  Peases  and  found  in  the  first  place 
we  were  hapily  agreed  to  worship  together  when  we  have 
Opportunity:  and  in  the  second  place  there  was  Forteen 
members  stood  ready  for  Communion  who  was  here  present — 
and  all  agreed  that  not  withstanding  our  diferent  oppenion 
respecting  our  being  a  Church  Before  this  date  Each  part  was 
willing  Each  other  should  maintain  his  oppinion  and  not  con- 
sider one  another  Knowingly  wrong,  and  finding  ourselves 
free  to  Worship  &  Commune  together  we  did  in  the  conclution 
with  the  greatest  freedom  by  way  of  Condesention  to  lay  aside 
the  Idia  of  a  Ch*"  till  we  have  your  Aprobation  If  you  can  give 
it  and  have  this  day  agreed  to  set  out  anew  the  same  as  if  there 
had  been  nothing  done  before  in  considering  ourselves  a  ch*". 
Except  we  see  no  need  of  calling  a  Council  Because  our  present 
prosperity  Cannot  alter  their  former  opinion.  We  heard  no 
noise  of  ax  or  hammer  this  day  those  members  Who  are  not 
ready  now  to  Embody  with  us  are  free  towards  our  doings  and 
we  are  free  towards  them  (and  more) 

"Sined  in  Behalf  of  the  Bretheren 

Israel  Bennet" 

(The  answer) 

"Wilbraham  Nov,  6'^  1799 

"at  a  ch^  meeting  held  at  Elder  Clarks  house  this  Day  Dear 
Breathem  we  took  your  letter  into  Consideration  dated  the 
23^^  of  October  last  We  rejoice  to  see  your  union  and  fellowship 
one  with  other  and  wish  Grace  mercy  and  peace  might  be 
multiplied  with  you.  We  as  a  ch^  can  give  you  fellowship  as  a 
ch^'^But  think  for  your  furter  Benefit  that  it  is  Necessary  that 
you^^have  the  fellowship  of  other  ch^^  also.  We  remain  your 
Breathem  in  tribulation 

"Sined  in  Behalf  of  the  Ch^  Elder  Seth  Clark 

"To  the  Brethem  in  the  south  part  of  Wilbraham  &  Monson 

"The  Church  Covenant 
"Is  subscribed  to  by  133  persons,  the  first  18  are 
"Nathan  Pease  Hannah  Pease 

Israel  Benet  Susanna  Benet 

Nathan  Pease  Jur.  Silvia  Pease 

Eliphlet  Green  Hannah  Firmin 

Aaron  Chapin  Hannah  Green 

Urial  Lamphere  Hannah  Chapin 

Elijah  Butten  Gerusha  Lamphere 

Jonathan  Hakes  Lucy  Butten 

Nathan  Brumly  Easter  Hakes" 


206  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"A  meeting  was  held  Feb.  6'^  1800  at  Isaac  Meechams  and 
in  the  first  place  hear*^  Brother  Meechams  accusations  against 
sister  pease  and  her  reply.  The  ch^  attended  with  the  greatest 
Calmness  (?)  and  were  all  agreed  that  Brother  Meecham  was 
much  out  of  the  way  in  holding  things  so  hard  against  Sister 
hannah  pease  and  all  the  Ch^  Except  two  members  were  free 
(favorable)  towards  her  and  they  were  in  some  measure  removed 
and  had  nothing  as  against  Bro.  an  what  Before  they  had  was 
in  some  measure  removed  out  of  the  way. 

"At  a  ch^  meeting  held  at  Nathan  peases  April  3"^  1800, 
voted  that  Elder  Stephen  Shepard  Preach  half  the  time  with  us 
at  the  present  and  continue  so  long  as  he  shall  think  proper  and 
we  continue  our  freedom  in  Contributines  to  him  in  bilding  the 
house  upon  that  Land  Elder  Shepard  had  of  Brother  hakes  (?)  " 

May  3rd,  1800:  Conference  attended  by  Elders  and  mem- 
bers from  other  Churches  the  Articles  of  Covenant  were  read 
and  approved  and  the  fellowship  of  their  Churches  given. 
(This  seems  to  be  the  second  time  the  Church  was  constituted. 
Perhaps  they  had  not  held  meetings  regularly  since  1794.) 

June  9th,  1804:  "Voted  that  no  Brother  ought  to  bring  a 
matter  to  the  Ch^  without  it  is  a  matter  of  Trespass  ( ?)  as  there 
is  many  differences  in  our  judgment  which  may  be  left  to 
Endividuals  which  are  not  a  just  bar  from  the  communion." 

Jan.,  1807 :  "Voted  to  have  a  free  conference  at  Nathan  pease. 
Jr.  the  18""  instant  for  the  purpose  of  Bilding  a  meetinghouse" 

Mar.  30th,  1808:  "2'y  agreed  to  the  eyedee  that  Elder 
Shepards  present  standing  is  not  binding  on  his  parishiners. 
Voted  on  Elder  Shepards  motion  that  he  is  at  liberty  to  be 
absent  from  us  and  we  to  look  out  for  other  help"  Voted 
"immediately  to  try  to  obtain  other  help." 

Dec.  23rd,  1809:  "At  a  ch'^  meeting  held  at  Brother  James 
Works — 2'y  Conversed  freely  upon  inviting  Ministers  to 
administer  to  us  who  belong  to  and  attend  the  masonic  lodge 
Voted  that  under  existing  circumstances  we  think  it  best  not 
to  invite  them  to  the  grief  of  any  of  our  bretheren." 

The  last  of  Dec,  1809:  "Voted  to  request  that  hampton 
Ch''  ordain  Brother  Alvin  Bennet — that  he  may  administer 
the  ordinances  to  the  Chh." 

June  23rd,  1810 — "at  a  Conference  meeting  held  at  our 
meeting  house."  (The  first  mention  of  using  the  meeting  house. 
The  previous  meeting  held  at  Elder  Shepards.) 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  207 

Oct.  17th,  1811:  "At  a  ch^  meeting  held  at  Brother  Nath 
Pease  house  in  Wilbraham — Brother  Truman  Trask  Came 
forward  and  made  his  mind  manifest  that  he  was  not  satisfied 
with  his  Baptism  on  the  account  of  his  not  being  quite  all  over 
Whelmed  in  Water  through  a  mistake.  It  was  largely  Con- 
versed upon  after  all  the  Light  that  Could  be  Brought  forward, 
then  the  voice  of  the  Ch*"  was  taken  and  all  was  agreed  Exsepting 
one  that  Brother  Trask  was  Gospel  wise  Baptised  and  therefore 
is  a  member  of  this  Ch**. 

March  21st,  1812:  "In  the  first  place  opened  the  way  for 
Bro.  Aaron  Chapin  to  free  his  mind  why  he  left  the  Ch^,  he  said 
that  the  principle  reasons  was  Conseming  masonry  and  the 
mode  of  singing  the  Ch^  had  adopted.  Conversed  largely  on 
the  first  point  and  finding  his  mind  Still  tryed.  not  wishing  to 
leave  the  Ch^  Could  he  see  with  them,  the  Ch*"  agreed  to  wait 
on  him  a  while  longer." 

Monson  July  31st,  1830;  "In  the  first  place  took  up  the 
matter  concerning  Br.  Jedidiah  Smith  joining  the  Freemasons. 
Voted  to  send  him  a  letter  of  admonition.  Elder  Bennett  to 
write  S'^  letter  the  letter  was  wrote,  read  and  Excepted." 

Feb.  12th,  1831 :  "Voted  to  send  Br.  Jedediah  Smith  a  second 
letter  of  admonition.  Elder  Bennett  to  write  it." 

April  9th,  1831:  "Voted  to  exclude  Jedediah  Smith  from 
church  fellowship." 

May  4th,  1833:  "—7'^  Voted  that  a  committee  of  three  be 
appointed  to  corospond  with  Sister  Ch^^  on  the  subject  of 
Free  Masonry. 

Sept.  13th,  1817:  "Voted  to  release  Br  Asa  Beebe  uppon 
his  own  request  from  Ch''  Chorister.  2^^  Voted  that  they  was 
willing  that  the  singers  should  sing  and  regulate  themselves." 

April  20th,  1822:  "Then  Oliver  Bliss  presented  a  Complaint 
against  Bro.  Asa  Beebe — appointed  April  24"^  to  hear  S'* 
Complaint."  (On  April  24  met  to  hear  the  Complaint  which 
was):  "that  Bro.  Beebe  had  defrauded  and  deceved  him  in 
selling  him  a  yoak  of  oxen    .    .    .    .     "  (evidence  given.) 

Then  the  Church  deliberated  on  the  matter  and  voted  the 
following  report.  "We  are  sensuble  that  the  intention  of  the 
mind  must  crown  the  merit  of  the  action  and  of  this  the  Lord 
only  can  Judge.  We  are  sorry  that  Br.  Beebe  did  not  inform 
Mr.  Bliss  that  the  ox  had  been  poaked  at  the  time  he  sold  him 


208  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

the  Cattle  which  we  think  he  ought  to  have  done  and  we  are 
very  sorry  that  he  did  not  and  hope  he  is  or  will  be  sorry  for 
it  also  which  we  think  he  ought  to  bee.  Then  Br.  Beebe  Replied 
and  said  that  he  was  sorry  that  he  did  not  tell  Mr.  Bliss  that 
the  ox  had  been  Poked  (ox  was  unruly) .  Voted  to  Disolve  this 
meeting." 

20  church  meetings  for  business  were  held  in  1837  and  29  in 
1838  and  many  members  were  excluded  from  fellowship, 
causing  much  trouble  and  at  the  request  of  the  church  a  com- 
mittee from  the  association  considered  the  subject. 

April  26th,  1845:  Voted  "that  the  name  of  our  church  be  so 
far  changed  as  to  be  called  Baptist  Church  Monson  &  Wil- 
braham.   Voted  to  organize  a  Sabbath  School." 

April  18th,  1846:  After  hearing  the  testimony  concerning 
Mrs.  Hunt,  "Voted  we  think  she  did  wrong  when  her  husband 
came  home  in  taking  the  tea  and  hideing  it  and  then  make  her 
husband  think  he  had  not  got  any  and  he  went  and  got  more. 
Also  we  think  she  has  used  profane  language.  Voted  that  she 
confess  publicly — Mrs  Hunt  said  she  could  not  comply  with 
the  requirement  of  the  church.  Voted  to  wave  the  subject  for 
the  present." 

It  seems  there  are  no  records  of  church  meetings  from 
August  19th,  1849  to  November  30th,  1852. 

On  November  30th,  1852:  "The  church  met  a  committee  of 
the  Association  consisting  of  four,  A.  Parker,  Robinson, 
Bachelor,  J.  Nichols.  The  object  of  the  committee  was  to 
learn  the  state  of  the  C'^'^.  Upon  inquiry  of  each  member 
present  it  seemed  to  be  their  desire  to  sustain  the  visibility  of 
the  church  and  make  one  more  efifort  to  sustain  the  preached 
gospel  in  this  place." 

April  27th,  1853:  "Voted  to  ask  the  committee  of  the  Asso- 
ciation Rev.  Parker,  Robinson  and  Bachelor  to  know  whether 
in  their  opinion  the  church  have  lost  their  visibility  or  identity 
in  their  past  neglect  of  various  duties  &c." 

Dec.  2nd,  1854:  "Voted  to  dedicate  the  new  Meeting  House 
in  South  Wilbraham.  Committee  appointed  to  fix  the  time  and 
make  all  necessary  arrangements.  Voted  to  appoint  our  next 
Covenant  meeting  at  the  Baptist  Meeting  House  in  South 
Wilbraham." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  209 

Jan.  6th,  1855:  "Voted  to  continue  our  meetings  at  the  new 
meeting  house  and  make  it  our  place  of  worship." 

July  5th,  1856:  "Voted  that  we  consider  Bro.  Henry  S. 
Stevens  as  pastor  of  this  C^*"  during  his  stay  with  us." 

Aug.  2nd,  1856:  "Voted  Sumner  Smith  Church  Clerk  in 
place  of  Gideon  Day  resigned." 

PETITION  OF  NOAH  STEBBINS  AND  OTHERS 
FOR  Incorporation  "Into  a  Parish  or  Religious  Society, 

BY   THE    name    OF   THE    MeTHODIST   EPISCOPAL   PARISH,    IN    THE 

TOWNS  OF  Wilbraham,  Springfield,  and  Ludlow." 

"To  the  Honorable  the  Senate,  &  the  Honorable  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  in 
General  Court  assembled,  in  Boston,  on  the  twenty-ninth  day 
of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou-sand  eight  hundred 
and  five : — 

"The  Petition  of  the  subscribers  most  humbly  exhibits  that 
they  are  of  a  persuasion  and  denomination  of  Christians  com- 
monly called  Methodists,  belonging  to  the  towns  of  Wilbraham, 
Springfield  &  Ludlow,  in  the  County  of  Hampshire;  and  that 
they  are  of  sufficient  number  &  ability  to  support  a  teacher 
and  defray  the  expenses  of  upholding  publick  worship  among 
themselves. 

"They  therefore  pray  that  they  may  be  admitted  to  the 
rights  and  benefits  of  the  Constitution  in  this  respect,  that 
they,  and  such  others  as  may  hereafter  join  them  in  such  manner 
as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law,  may  be  incorporated  into  a  parish 
or  religious  society  by  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Parish  or  Religious  Society  in  the  towns  of  Wilbraham,  Spring- 
field, &  Ludlow,  and  be  invested  with  the  powers  priviliges  & 
rights  which  by  the  law  &  Constitution  of  this  Commonwealth 
parishes  ought  to  have  and  enjoy. 

"And  as  in  duty  shall  pray 

"Newel  Cone,  Leonard  Frost,  Charles  Converse, 

Matthew  Cone,  Ezra  Barker,  Moses  B.  Bartlet, 

Ichabod  Cone,  Samuel  Brewer,  Charles  Johnson, 

John  Langdon,  Gaius  Brewer,  Russel  Parker, 

Calvin  Stebbins,  2^.  Gordon  Chapel,  Walter  Langdon, 

Josiah  Langdon,  John  Brewer,  Eldad  Stebbins, 

Noah  Stebbins,  Peter  Wallridge,  Christopher  Langdon, 

Charles  Brewer,  James  Calkins,  Jr.  Walter  Stebbins, 

Abel  Bliss,  Jr.  Eleazer  Bishop,  Reuben  Hendrick, 

Rowland  Crocker,  Joseph  Bannister,  Abner  Chapin, 

John  Kneeland,  Ahimaaz  Willey,  Jonah  Beebe, 


210 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Benjamin  Weaver, 
Sewall  T.  Mack, 
Elijah  Jones, 
David  Calkins, 
Fred.  Stebbins, 
Noah  Frost, 
Abel  Bliss, 
Charles  Brewer,  Jr., 
Jona  Merrick,  Jr., 
Zenas  Parker, 


Luther  Stebbins,  2'^, 
Noah  Stebbins,  Jr., 
Stephen  Stebbins, 
Sylvanus  Stebbins, 
Luther  Stebbins, 
Eldad  Stebbins,  Jr., 
Zadock  Stebbins, 
William  Brewer,  Jr., 
James  Calkins, 
David  Cad  well,  ■ 


Nathan  Mack, 
Ezra  Goss, 
Phineas  Stebbins,  Jr. 
Elisha  Shepard, 
Nathan  Alvard, 
Steph.  Cad  well,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Allen, 
Jonas  Keyes, 
61." 


Committed  to  the  Standing  Committee  on  Parishes,   May 
30,  1805,  by  the  House  of  Representatives. 

In  the  same  words  another  petition  is  presented  at  the  same 
time,  signed  as  follows: — 


"James  Malvin, 
Samuel  Frost, 
Eliphalet  Green, 
Jonathan  Benton, 
Stephen  Pease, 
Jedediah  Sawyer, 
Uriah  Clough, 

Elijah  Thacher, 
Daniel  S wetland, 
William  Butler, 
John  Russel, 
Samuel  Harris, 
Ephraim  Fuller,  Jr. 
Samuel  Frost,  Jr., 


David  Orcutt, 
Silas  Holton, 
Joseph  Webster, 
John  Clough, 
Anthony  Slaster, 
Stephen  Howard, 
Ephraim  Fuller, 

Reuben  Frost, 

Elias  Frost, 
Elkanah  Tenney, 
Lemuel  Parsons, 
John  PauUs,  Jr., 


John  Charter, 
William  Carlile, 
David  Slaster, 
David  Stebbins, 

Gideon  Hunn, 
Chester  Wakefield, 
Anson  Craw, 
33 

Wilbraham,  59; 
Springfield,  25; 
Ludlow,  8." 


On  the  "Petition  of  Noah  Stebbins  and  others  and  Stephen 
Howard  and  others,  Inhabitants  of  Wilbraham,  Springfield, 
and  Ludlow,  praying  that  they  may  be  incorporated  into  a 
religious  Society,  by  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Parish  or  Religious  Society  in  the  towns  of  Wilbraham,  Spring- 
field, and  Ludlow"  it  is 


"Ordered,  that  the  Petitioners  cause  attested  copies  of  their 
Petitions,  with  this  order  thereon,  to  be  served  on  the  respective 
Town  Clerks  of  the  said  towns  of  Wilbraham,  Springfield,  and 
Ludlow,  and  on  the  several  Parish  Clerks  within  the  said  towns, 
thirty  days  at  least  before  the  second  Wednesday  of  the  first 
session  of  the  next  General  Court,  that  all  concerned  may  then 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  211 

appear,  and  shew  cause  (if  any  they  have)  why  the  prayer  of 
said  Petitioners  should  not  be  granted. 
"In  Senate,  February  22,  1806. 
"Read  and  accepted. 

"Sent  down  for  concurrence, 

"H.  G.  Otis,  President. 
"In  the  House  of  Representatives,  February  24,  1806 
"Read  and  concurred, 

"Timothy  Bigelow,  Speaker'' 

A  previous  petition  of  Noah   Stebbins  and  others  only  is 
ordered  and  referred  in  the  same  way,  June  11th,  1805  (except, 
"third   instead   of   second   Wednesday"    and    "next   session" 
instead  of  "first  session  of  next,"  etc.) 

The  next  autumn,  forty-three  of  these  petitioners  renewed 
their  petition,  "not  withstanding  there  may  be  objections  by 
Towns  or  Parishes." 

The  North  and  South  Parishes  answered  the  notification  of 
the  petition  in  nearly  the  same  words,  as  follows  (omitting  the 
formal  introduction) : — 

"The  clerk  of  the  town  has  favored  us  with  a  writing  pur- 
porting to  be  an  order  of  your  Honors  on  the  petition  of  Noah 
Stebbins  and  others,  praying  to  be  incorporated  into  a  religious 
society,  also  papers  purporting  to  be  petitions  of  said  Noah 
Stebbins  Stephen  Howard  and  others,  but  neither  of  said  papers 
are  attested  by  any  person  as  coppies,  so  that  we  are  wholly  at 
a  loss  whether  there  be  any  such  petitions  pending  and  we  know 
not  the  names  of  the  petitioners  except  the  two  above  men- 
tioned. Indeed,  the  person  who  left  the  papers  with  the  clerk 
said  he  would  give  the  names  of  as  many  as  he  could  remember, 
and  gave  about  fifty.  He  soon  after  called  and  took  said  list 
away,  so  that  we  have  not  the  names  of  the  Petitioners  but  by 
the  memory  of  the  clerk,  and  his  information  was  incomplet; 
but  a  number  have  appeared  and  said  that  they  signed  said 
petition,  but  that  they  were  deceived — that  they  had  no  idea 
of  saying  that  they  were  Methodists,  and  wished  to  be  incor- 
porated, but  that  they  were  willing  that  others,  to  wit,  Method- 
ists, might  be.  Upon  the  whole,  we  think  there  has  been  great 
unfairness  in  obtaining  said  Petitions,  and  in  giving  notice. 
We  therefore  pray,  if  there  is  such  a  petition  pending,  your 


212  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Honors  would  not  grant  the  prayer  thereof  until  we  are  regu- 
larly notified  and  have  the  names  of  the  petitioners. 
"  'As  in  duty  bound  shall  we  pray.' 

Chileab  B.  Merrick    ]         Committee 
Samuel  F.  Merrick      \  for 

Philip  Morgan  J       North  Parish 

Robert  Sessions  1      Committee  for 

Stewart  Beebe  \      South  Parish 

Calvin  Stebbins  J      of  Wilbraham''' 

In  1819,  forty-two  inhabitants  of  Wilbraham,  Palmer,  and 
Monson,  petitioned  to  be  incorporated  as  "The  Third  Religious 
Society  in  the  town  of  Wilbraham,"  alleging  that  they  were 
situated  about  four  miles  from  the  nearest  place  of  public 
worship,  and  that  they  had  twenty  years  since  formed  them- 
selves into  a  separate  religious  society,  and  erected  a  house  of 
worship,  and  supported  preaching  almost  constantly  since  that 
time;  but  at  length,  finding  it  inconvenient  to  do  so,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  want  of  an  act  of  incorporation,  granting  to  said 
society  power  to  lay  and  collect  a  tax  for  that  purpose. 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  not  passed,  and  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  copy  the  names  of  the  petitioners.  They  were,  I 
suppose,  the  supporters  of  the  Baptist  Society  in  the  North 
Village,  or  the  one  at  Colton  Hollow. 

As  a  reminiscence  of  the  days,  only  about  75  years  ago,  I 
copy  a  few  bills  paid  on  account  of  the  militia,  and  other  items 
from  the  treasurer's  account. 

"To  the  Hon.  Board  Selectmen  or  Assessors  of  the  town  of 
Wilbraham. 

''This  may  certify  that  the  within  named  persons  have  done 
Military  Duty  in  the  Springfield  Artilery  the  past  year  as 
Required  by  law. 

Edward  W.  Chafife        Almond  Wood 
Isaac  Brewer  Sydny  Moore 

Jackson  W.  Stebbins 

Springfield  Oct.  24"'  1837 

Cap'  David  Loyde." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  213 

"$25.00  Luther  Brewer  Treasurer  of  the  town  of  Wilbraham 
pay  Highland  Cleaveland,  Benjamin  Ellis,  Sidney  Moore, 
Isaac  Brewer,  Edward  W.  Chaffee  the  sum  of  Five  Dollars  each 
they  ha\dng  done  Militar}^  duty  as  the  law  requires  the  year 
past  as  cer'^'^  by  their  commanding  Officer — 

Stephen  Stebbins      ]  Selectmen 

\  of 

"Dec.  6,  1838  Wm.  V.  Sessions       J        Wilbraham" 

"To  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Wilbraham 
"This  certifies  that  Benjamin  Ellis  has  done  military  duty  in 
the  company  of  light  infantry  in  Longmeadow  the  season  past 
according  to  law  he  will  therefore  have  a  claim  of  Five  Dollars 
on  your  treasury  for  his  services. 

W.  Lathrop,  Captain" 

"To  the  Selectmen  of  Wilbraham 

"Gentlemen  this  certifies  that  Jonah  Alden  3'^  of  Wilbraham 
has  done  Military  duty  in  the  Independent  Company  of  Militia 
in  the  town  of  Ludlow  the  past  season  according  to  law  for 
which  he  is  entitled  to  five  dollars  out  of  the  Treasury  of  Wil- 
braham. 

Ludlow  Oct.  19,  1842 

Charles  D.  Champlin    1     Commander 
j     of  said  Co." 

Training  day  was  a  great  event  in  those  days.  i\ll  men 
between  the  ages  of  18  and  45  were  enrolled  in  the  militia  and 
were  required  to  assemble  at  stated  times,  organize  into  com- 
panies, choose  officers  and  do  a  certain  amount  of  drilling  each 
year.  How  they  got  their  dinners  on  training  days,  I  have  not 
yet  learned.  But  I  have  learned  from  one  who  was  there,  that 
the  beverage  they  consumed  was  not  all  drawn  from  the  tavern 
well,  near  which  they  generally  assembled.  New  England  rum 
was  cheap  (about  60  cents  a  gallon)  and  on  that  day  it  was 
plenty  and  free  for  every  militiaman.  The  expense  was  paid 
by  the  officers,  the  non-commissioned  officers  being  assessed 
about  25  cents  each,  and  the  commissioned  officers  paying  larger 
sums,  according  to  their  rank,  but  the  "grog"  was  free,  and  we 
may  well  believe  the  reports  of  those  days,  that  some  of  the 
men  drank  more  of  it  than  was  for  their  good.  I  have  been 
informed  that  at  the  last  training  of  the  Wilbraham  company. 


214  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

they  marched  to  North  Wilbraham  and  then  along  the  roadbed 
of  the  Great  Western  Railroad,  as  the  Boston  and  Albany  was 
then  called,  which  had  been  graded,  but  the  ties  and  rails  had 
not  been  laid.  That  must  have  been  about  1838.  Philip  P. 
Potter  was  the  last  captain  of  the  Wilbraham  company,  and 
Col.  Benjamin  Butler  the  last  colonel  of  the  regiment,  which 
must  have  been  composed  of  companies  from  several  towns. 
They  both  retained  their  titles  while  they  lived,  being  familiarly 
spoken  of  as  Colonel  Butler  and  Captain  Potter. 

It  appears,  from  a  study  of  the  treasurer's  accounts  of  the 
town,  that  the  bills  were  not  always  paid  during  the  year  that 
there  were  incurred.     I  find  the  following: 

"1834,  Apr.  9,  To  paying  Selectmen's  order  to  William  S. 
Burt  dated  May  10,  1830  marked  No.  1  Letter  A.  $88.38 
Interest  on  the  same  20.81." 

On  one  page  of  the  account  for  1831,  I  find  that  interest  was 
paid  on  eight  different  orders  given  in  1829  and  1830.  The 
largest  being  $23.00,  and  the  smallest  $1.65.  There  are  many 
similar  charges  of  interest  paid. 

On  the  same  page  I  find  that  the  treasurer  credits  himself 
' '  Depreciated  money  $3 .  00 . " 

In  1827,  I  find  the  treasurer  charges  himself,  "By  Cash  of 
William  Knight  Esq.  being  one  half  of  a  fine  collected  of 
Erasmus  Glover  for  Profane  Swearing  .50." 

Also,  "Mar.  20,  1832,  Paid  Aaron  Bliss  for  Surveying  the 
Town  $62.90."  A  copy  of  this  survey  has  now  been  secured 
for  the  town. 

RAILROADS  IN  THIS  VICINITY 

"The  road  from  Boston  to  Worcester  was  opened  for  traffic 
July  4th,  1835. 

"Passenger  trains  were  run  from  Boston  to  Springfield,  Oct. 
1st,  1839. 

"In  Oct.,  1841,  the  road  was  finished  to  the  N.  Y.  State  line 
and  on  Dec.  24,  1841,  trains  began  running  between  Boston 
and  Albany,  on  the  longest  continuous  line  of  railway  then  in 
operation  in  the  United  States." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  215 

The  line  was  then  owned  by  three  corporations,  which  were 
consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  on 
December  1st,  1867.  The  road  from  Springfield  to  Hartford 
and  New  Haven  was  opened  in  1844.  The  road  from  Spring- 
field to  Northampton  and  beyond,  was  put  in  operation  about 
1847.  In  1847,  a  company  was  incorporated  to  build  a  line 
from  New  London  to  Springfield,  but  the  route  was  changed 
to  Palmer,  and  was  opened  September  20,  1850. 

In  connection  with  the  opening  of  the  Boston  and  Albany 
Railroad,  the  following  letter  from  Delos  D.  Merrick  to  his 
brother  Wm.  W.  Merrick,  both  of  this  town,  may  be  of  interest. 
(Delos  D.  Merrick  went  to  Wellfleet  to  teach  school.) 

"Weimeet  Mass.  Dec.  22"^!  1834 
"  Dear  Brother — •.  .  .  .  let  me  tell  you  about  my  journey. 
I  arrived  here  the  next  sabbath  after  I  started.  We  arrived  at 
Ware  about  8  o'clock,  left  there  about  seven  the  next  morning. 
Arrived  at  Worcester  about  12  same  day  which  was  Friday, 
left  there  123^,  arrived  at  Westboro  in  season  to  take  the 
railroad  for  Boston  we  drove  7  miles  from  there  with  a  horse 
fastened  to  the  car  to  a  place  call'^  Hopkinton  where  we  waited 
till  20  minutes  before  5  we  then  started  with  steam  and  with 
such  rapidity  that  I  was  astonished  for  I  must  say  that  I 
never  rode  as  fast  as  that  before,  they  go  at  the  rate  of  20 
miles  per  hour  we  soon  arrived  at  Boston  ....  Permit  me 
to  tell  you  one  thing,  censure  me  not  for  you  know  I  wanted 
to  see  all  I  could  by  way  of  improvement.  I  visited  the  Theatre 
I  did  not  have  any  idea  of  it  it  was  beautiful" 

(Left  Boston  Sunday  morning  by  boat,  reached  Wellfleet 
same  day.  Two  friends  of  his  who  sailed  from  Boston  on 
Friday  reached  there  at  same  time.) 

When  the  "  Great  Western  Railroad"  (now  Boston  &  Albany) 
was  built  in  1839,  a  station  was  established  near  the  northwest 
part  of  our  town,  about  forty  or  sixty  rods  east  of  where  our 
present  West  Street  runs  under  the  railroad,  and  about  mid- 
way between  the  two  houses  now  standing  there.  Elisha  Fuller 
kept  a  tavern,  located  a  few  rods  north  of  the  station,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  present  highway  and  just  west  of  the  branch 
road   that  runs   down  towards  the  Chicopee  River.      In  the 


216  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

days  before  the  Connecticut  River  Railroad  was  built,  a  stage 
ran  daily  between  that  station  and  Northampton.  About 
1840  to  1845,  a  family  from  the  South  had  come  to  Northampton 
to  visit  friends,  bringing  with  them  a  colored  nurse-girl,  who 
was  a  slave.  It  was  against  the  sentiment  of  the  community 
in  those  days  for  a  slave  to  tread  the  sacred  soil  of  Massachu- 
setts. Probably  some  rabid  abolitionist  must  have  given  the 
information  to  the  society  in  Boston  that  a  slave  was  there, 
for  two  men  came  from  Boston  and  compelled  her  to  go  with 
them.  She  came  in  the  stage  with  them  to  Mr.  Fuller's  tavern, 
and  broken-hearted  told  her  story  to  him.  When  those  men 
ordered  dinner  for  themselves,  and  said  that  she  could  eat 
afterwards  or  with  the  servants  of  the  house,  Mr.  Fuller  was 
very  indignant,  and  told  them,  "If  they  had  dinner  there,  they 
would  all  eat  at  the  same  table,  and  at  the  same  time."  She 
was  taken  to  Boston,  told  she  was  free,  and  could  take  care  of 
herself.  In  a  few  weeks,  only  a  month  I  think,  she  was  back, 
on  her  way  to  Northampton,  and  trying  to  find  her  friends, 
from  whom  she  was  so  cruelly  separated.  This  incident  of  the 
old  abolition  days  was  told  me  by  a  daughter  of  Mr  Fuller, 
who  though  only  a  child  at  the  time,  remembers  it  very  well. 

This  railroad  station  was  moved  in  1851,  to  what  is  now 
called  "Oak  Street"  Station,  and  the  tavern  soon  followed. 
Both  being  moved  on  Sunday,  by  the  railroad,  on  four  plat- 
form cars,  two  on  each  track,  and  the  tavern  was  set  on  its 
foundation  without  even  disturbing  a  glass  of  water,  full  to  the 
brim,  setting  on  a  shelf  in  the  dining  room.  About  1859,  Mr. 
Fuller  moved  to  Springfield,  and  conducted  the  Hampden 
Hotel,  in  the  block  now  occupied  by  Smith  &  Murray's  store. 

The  present  station  at  North  Wilbraham  was  established 
about  1852. 

The  Athol  branch,  now  operated  by  the  Boston  &  Albany, 
was  built  from  Barrett's  Junction  to  Springfield  in  1873,  and  a 
station  established  in  Ludlow,  just  across  the  Chicopee  River 
from  our  north  village,  which  was  named  "Collins,"  in  honor 
of  the  first  station  agent  at  North  Wilbraham,  which  was  once 
called  "Collins'  Depot." 


WARREN  COLLINS. 

First  Station  Agent,  also 

First  Postmaster  at  North  Wilbraham. 


MRS.  WARREN  COLLINS. 


WARREN  LEVI  COLLINS. 

Proprietor  of  the  Stage  Line  between   North 

Wilbraham  and  Wilbraham  for  many  years. 


MRS.  WARREN  LEVI  COLLINS. 


-218 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


THIS  WAS  THE   HOME  OF  WARREN  COLLINS. 

And  the  first  Railroad  Station  at  North  Wilbraham.     The  building  is  now  standing 
a  little  east  of  "Collins  Inn." 


THE  WILBRAHAM  AQUEDUCT  C0A4PANY 

vSomewhere  about  1854  or  1855,  a  stock  company  was  formed 
here  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  our  center  village  with  water. 
A  reservoir  was  made  on  the  west  side  of,  and  about  half  wa}' 
up  the  mountain,  and  an  aqueduct  of  pine  logs  was  laid  to  the 
Main  Street  and  for  about  half  a  mile  in  the  street.  I  well 
remember,  when  a  boy,  of  seeing  the  long  auger,  run  by  steam 
power,  eating  its  way  lengthwise  through  those  logs  and  the 
bushels  of  chips  which  rolled  out  of  the  end  of  the  log  where 
the  auger  entered.  The  boring  was  done  in  a  lot  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Main  Street,  directly  in  front  of  the  south  end  of  the 
present  boarding  house  of  Wilbraham  Academy.  The  specifica- 
tions required  that  the  logs  should  be  eight  inches  in  diameter 
at  the  small  end.  They  bored  a  hole  four  inches  in  diameter 
through  each  log,  leaving  at  the  best  onh'-  two  inches  of  sappy 
green  wood  around  the  hole,  and  as  I  have  been  told,  when  the 
water  was  turned  on  the  logs  began  to  burst  before  the  water 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  219 

got  down  into  the  village.  The  broken  places  were  patched  up, 
and  the  water  was  kept  running  after  a  fashion  for  a  few  years, 
but  at  such  an  expense  for  repairs  that  after  a  short  time  the 
system  was  abandoned,  and  the  reservoir  sold  later  to  Wil- 
braham Academy,  and  about  thirty-five  years  ago  an  iron  pipe 
was  pushed  through  the  hole  in  the  old  logs  for  part  of  the 
way,  and  now  serves  to  convey  water  to  their  boarding  house 
from  what  is  called  the  "Upper  Reservoir." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  an  assessment  made  upon  the 
stockholders,  found  among  the  papers  left  by  William  W. 
Merrick. 

"Wilbraham  June  16'^  ig^Q 

"To  William  W.  Merrick  Esq.  Treasurer  of  the 

"Wilbraham  Aqueduct  Company. 
"Sir. 

"The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  have  directed  that 
an  instalment  of  six  dollars  on  each  share  of  the  capital  stock 
of  said  Company  be  required  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer  at  the  expiration  of  ten  days  from  the  28th  day  of 
May  last  past.  In  accordance  with  this  resolution  I  have  placed 
in  the  hands  of  Hiram  M.  Brewer  Collector  of  the  Company 
the  Subjoined  bills.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  directors  that  you  use 
all  due  dilligence  to  cause  the  same  to  be  collected  and  paid 
into  your  hands  and  made  subject  to  the  drafts  of  the  Secretary 
and  Auditor. 


L.  B.  Bliss 

4  v^ 

Shares 

24.00 

R.  Glover 

do 

do 

24.00 

Geo  Bishop 

do 

do 

24.00 

Edmund  Jones 

3 

do 

18.00 

Edwin  B.  Brewer 

2 

do 

12.00 

Roderick  Burt 

2 

do 

12.00 

Robert  R.  Wright 

2 

do 

12.00 

William  E.  Brewer 

2 

do 

12.00 

James  W.  Mowry 

4 

do 

24.00 

Nelson  Mowry 

4 

do 

24.00 

Samuel  F.  Pickering 

4 

do 

24.00 

John  M.  Merrick 

20 

do 

120.00 

Ezra  White 

1 

do 

6.00 

Mrs  Lydia  Virgin 

1 

do 

6.00 

220  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Hiram  M.  Brewer  2  Shares  12.00 

James  Rice  (transferee!  to  John  M.  Merrick)  6.00 
Jesse  W.  Rice  2      do  12.00 

William  W.  Merrick        4      do  24.00 


Whole  amount       396.00" 

None  of  these  stockholders  are  now  living,  but  I  remember 
all  but  three  of  them.  They  were  capable  and  energetic,  and 
we  regret  that  their  venture  was  not  more  successful. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  WILBRAHAM  ACADEMY 

The  Wesley  an  Academy,  as  it  was  originally  called  and,  as 
its  name  indicates,  was  closely  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Church.  During  the  first  fifty  years  after  the  Methodist 
Church  was  organized  but  few  efforts  were  made  to  found 
educational  institutions.  Cokesbury  College  in  Maryland  was 
built,  and  twice  destroyed  by  fire,  but  nothing  further  was 
done  in  the  cause  of  education  by  the  Methodist  Church  until 
the  year  1818,  when  the  Wesleyan  Academy  was  inaugurated 
and  located  at  Newmarket  New  Hampshire.  The  Wesleyan 
Academy  had  but  very  limited  success  during  the  entire  time 
of  its  location  at  Newmarket,  and  its  founders  with  other 
friends  of  education  in  the  Methodist  Church  began  inquiring 
for  a  better  location,  and  proposals  were  invited.  On  the  30th 
of  December,  1823,  the  following  vote  was  passed  by  the 
trustees:  "Whereas,  the  Academy  under  our  superintendence 
has  not  met  with  that  encouragement  which  we  were  induced 
to  expect,  Therefore,  voted,  that  we  suspend  our  operations 
for  the  present." 

The  citizens  of  Wilbraham  offered  valuable  inducements, 
including  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  more  than  $2,000  and 
the  present  site  of  the  institution  was  selected,  a  board  of 
trustees  nominated,  and  an  act  of  incorporation  obtained  from 
the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  The  act  was  approved  by  the 
Governor  on  the  7th  of  February,  1824,  a  few  days  more  than 
a  month  after  operations  were  suspended  at  Newmarket. 
The  Wesleyan  Academy  at  Wilbraham  and  the  Newmarket 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  221 

Wesleyan  Academy  were  therefore  one  and  the  same  institution 
with  only  a  change  of  location  and  legal  authority,  and  claimed 
the  honor  of  being  the  oldest  existing  literary  institution,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America. 

On  land  donated  by  Wm.  Rice,  Esq.,  of  Springfield,  formerly 
of  Wilbraham,  known  as  the  "Academy  Lot,"  with  the  avails 
of  donations  collected  by  agents  who  travelled  extensively 
through  the  Conference,  the  "Old  Academy"  building  was 
erected.  A  farm  of  sixty  acres — one-half  of  the  Warriner 
homestead,  was  purchased,  and  the  old  house  enlarged  and 
fitted  for  a  boarding-house.  This  house  was  first  built  by  Wm. 
Rice  for  a  hotel  and  had  been  used  for  several  years  by  the 
Warriners  for  that  purpose.  As  the  main  tide  of  travel  had 
moved  aside  from  them,  they  found  business  not  paying  and 
were  ready  to  sell.  For  some  time  the  chief  profit  had  been 
derived  from  special  gatherings  for  convivial  and  military 
purposes  which  often  proved  to  be  "high  times."  On  one 
occasion,  after  freely  imbibing  of  the  liquors  kept  within,  the 
revellers  rode  their  horses  in  at  the  large  front  door,  through 
the  hall  and  out  the  back  way.  The  purchase  of  this  property 
was  a  fortunate  investment.  It  removed  what  would  have 
been  a  source  of  constant  temp  cation  to  the  students,  and  at 
the  same  time  gave  them  precisely  the  property  most  conven- 
iently located  for  the  purposes  of  the  school. 

The  school  was  opened  November  8th,  1825,  and  the  number 
of  students  the  first  day  was  eight,  during  the  term,  thirty- 
five. 

From  these  small  beginnings  the  institution  was  at  once 
encouraged  by  unexpected  success  which  has  continued  with 
more  or  less  variations.  To  assist  indigent  students,  by  making 
the  institution,  as  far  as  means  would  allow,  a  manual-labor 
school,  a  mechanic  shop  was  erected,  and  incipient  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  an  agricultural  department.  This  experi- 
ment did  not  prove  successful,  however,  and  the  mechanic  shop 
was  soon  enlarged  and  converted  into  a  laboratory,  with  recita- 
tion rooms,  museum,  and  cabinet  for  the  department  of  Natural 
Science. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  ^''23 

Dr.  Fisk,  the  principal,  at  first  lived  on  the  Work's  place,  a 
mile  down  street.  This  was  on  the  site  of  the  first  house  south 
of  Federal  Lane,  on  the  east  side  of  our  Main  Street,  now 
owned  by  Wm.  T.  Eaton.  A  house  was  built  for  the  principal 
in  1827-28  on  the  site  of  the  present  house  and  used  as  the 
residence  of  the  principals  for  twenty-eight  years,  until  1856, 
when  it  was  removed  a  short  distance  to  the  west  and  fitted  up 
for  students,  and  the  new  one  was  built. 

In  1851,  the  building  known  as  Fisk  Hall  was  erected;  and 
in  1854  the  old  laboratory  was  removed  and  Binney  Hall  took 
its  place.  On  the  4th  of  January,  1856,  the  boarding-house 
took  fire  and  was  entirely  consumed.  A  substantial  brick 
building  was  begun  in  August  of  that  year  and  completed  in 
1857,  when  it  was  again  destroyed  by  the  flames.  After  nearly 
two  years'  delay,  another  building  to  take  its  place  was  com- 
menced, and  was  ready  for  students  at  the  fall  term  in  1861, 
and  has  been  in  use  since  that  time.  It  was  named  "Rich 
Hall"  in  honor  of  one  of  the  principal  donors  of  the  fund  for 
its  erection. 

In  1896,  the  Smith  Memorial  Gymnasium  was  erected,  at  a 
cost  of  about  $45,000,  given  by  Horace  Smith,  or  his  estate, 
for  that  purpose.  In  June,  1911,  the  school  was  closed  as  a 
co-educational  institution,  and  extensive  changes  and  altera- 
tions were  made  in  Rich  Hall,  and  some  improvements  in  other 
.buildings,  and  was  opened  in  September,  1912,  as  a  School  for 
Boys.  The  present  principal,  or  "head  master,"  is  Gaylord  W. 
Douglas.  We  hope  the  Academy  will  be  as  successful  in  its 
new  field  of  labor,  as  it  has  been  in  the  past. 

From  a  printed  catalogue  of  the  Academy  I  gather  some 
items  of  interest.    The  cover  page  reads: 


224  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

CATALOGUE 
Wesleyan  Academy 

WILBRAHAM,  MASS. 


Summer   and   Fall   Terms 


1836 


The  catalogue  contains  the  names  of  202  males,  and  198 
females  who  attended  the  school,  making  a  total  of  400.  But, 
the  names  of  43  males  and  52  females  are  marked  with  a  dash, 
to  show  that  they  had  left  the  school.  Probably  some  who 
attended  the  summer  term,  did  not  attend  in  the  fall,  and  some 
who  attended  the  fall  term,  did  not  attend  in  the  summer. 

The  place  where  the  students  boarded,  or  roomed  is  also 
given. 

79  males  boarded  at  "Seminary,"  as  it  is  called,  and  50 
females  at  "Seminary  L.  A." 

74  males  and  97  females  boarded,  or  had  rooms,  in  private 
houses,  the  names  of  the  places  being  given.  18  females  made 
their  home  with  Miss  Allen,  12  with  Mrs.  Potter,  8  males  and 
3  females  with  Mrs.  Moody,  10  males  with  Rev.  E.  Otis,  and  in 
smaller  numbers  at  other  places.  In  all,  the  names  of  32  places 
are  given  where  the  students  boarded,  or  had  rooms;  many 
probably  boarded  themselves,  and  that  custom  was  continued 
down  to  quite  recent  times. 

The  Catalogue  continues. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


225 


"TERMS  AND  VACATIONS 

"The  year  is  divided  into  four  Terms,  corresponding  as 
nearly  as  possible  with  the  four  Seasons.  The  Winter  Term 
will  commence  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  December,  and  the 
Spring  Term  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  March.  The  Winter 
and  Spring  Terms  will  each  be  preceded  by  a  vacation  of  one 
week. 

"BOARD 

"The  price  of  board,  exclusive  of  washing,  fuel  and  lights, 
$1.50  per  week.  Washing,  25  cts.  per  doz.  Board  may  be 
obtained  in  private  families  for  from  $1.50  to  $2.00  per  week. 


"PRICE  OF  TUITION 

"For  common  English  studies,  per  Term 
For  each  higher  branch  of  Mathematics 
Botany  ..... 

Natural  Philosophy 
Chemistry      ..... 
Latin,  Greek,  French,  Spanish  and  Italian 
Ornamental  Branches      .... 


$3.00 

.50 

.50 

.75 

1.00 

1.00 

3.00 


"In  no  case,  however,  shall  the  charges  for  regular  instruction 
exceed  $5  per  Term,  except  for  Music,  the  Ornamental  Branches, 
and  Lectures  in  Book-Keeping." 


In  regard  to  the  location  of  the  Academy  building,  I 
copy  from  the  History  of  Wilbraham  Academy,  published  in 
1893. 

"In  the  minds  of  the  committee,  Calvin  Brewer's  place,  next 
the  store  had  the  preference. — -Sixty-five  acres  in  that  beautiful 
locality  for  $3,500,  was  not  high. — They  made  further  search 
in  the  vicinity,  coming  back  each  time  to  this  spot.  The  com- 
mittee is  ordered  to  close  the  bargain.  The  papers  are  drawn 
up.— The  bargain  was  nearly  closed,  the  owner  thought  it  was 
closed,  when  the  coinmittee  began  to  hesitate  and  inquire. 
They  looked  at  the  Brown  farm  and  the  Merrick  farm  with 
some  longing,  only  to  return  to  the  Brewer  place.  The  board 
ordered  the  deeds  '  to  be  executed  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  a 
third  party  until  April  when  the  trustees  may  have  the  option 
of  taking  them  and  paying  therefor,  should  they  be  unable, 
meantime,  to  effect  a  purchase  of  the  Merrick  farm.'     'The 


226  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

purchase  of  the  Merrick  farm  was  not  effected.  The  Brewer 
trade  also  failed,  which  proved  so  great  a  grief  to  the  owner 
that  he  applied  to  the  trustees  for  damages. 

"But  the  arbitrators  to  whom  the  matter  was  referred 
exonerated  the  committee  of  the  board." 

It  is  a  matter  of  interest  to  us  today,  as  to  the  location  of 
those  places.  The  Merrick  farm  was  about  one  fourth  of  a  mile 
south  of  the  present  location  of  the  academy.  The  place  is 
now  owned  by  Mr.  M.  C.  Wade,  but  was  owned  by  the  Merrick 
family  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

The  Brewer  farm  included  the  land  on  both  sides  of  Main 
Street,  now  occupied  by  the  Methodist  parsonage  and  my  own 
home,  on  the  west  side,  and  by  the  store  and  house  of  F.  A. 
Gumey  on  the  east  side.  The  farm  was  about  21  rods  wide  and 
extended  easterly  to  the  "middle  road,"  and  westerly  to  near 
Pole  Bridge  Brook.  Bounded  southerly  by  Springfield  Street, 
part  of  the  way,  and  northerly  by  the  north  line  of  the  road 
leading  up  the  mountain. 

TOWN  LOAN  AND  SURPLUS  REVENUE 

I  have  made  a  diligent  search  to  find  something  definite  on 
this  subject,  but  have  not  succeeded  as  well  as  I  hoped. 

From  the  Deacon  Warriner  will,  a  copy  of  which  will  be  found 
on  another  page,  it  will  be  seen  that  he  left  a  legacy  of  £200  to 
the  town,  the  income  to  be  used  for  the  support  of  schools. 
There  were  also  two  school  lots,  each  containing  about  145 
acres,  which  were  sold  about  1772.  The  school  lots  were  about 
half  as  large  as  the  ministry  lots,  and  probably  sold  for  about 
$416.  There  was  also  some  overplus  land,  the  sale  of  which 
may  have  increased  this  sum. 

THE  SURPLUS  REVENUE 

In  1836  the  United  States  had  a  surplus  of  money  in  the 
treasury,  and  on  June  23,  1836,  Congress  passed  an  Act  that 
all  money  in  the  treasury  above  $5,000,000  should  be  deposited 
with  the  states  in  proportion  to  their  representation  in  Congress, 


228  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

subject  to  be  called  for  by  the  United  States,  under  certain 
specified  conditions. 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  of  1837,  Chapter 
109,  it  was  "Provided  that  the  several  towns  in  the  State  shall 
receive  their  proportional  share"  of  the  fund,  subject  to  be 
called  back  by  the  State  Treasurer,  if  required  by  the  United 
States  Treasurer.  Section  4  provided,  "The  several  towns 
aforesaid  shall  apply  the  money  so  deposited  with  them,  or  the 
interest  upon  the  same,  to  those  public  objects  of  expenditure 
for  which  they  may  now  lawfully  raise  and  appropriate  money, 
and  to  no  other  purpose."  The  Act  further  provided  that 
"$2,500.00  of  the  money  should  be  retained  by  the  State  and 
loaned,  and  the  income  to  be  paid  annually  as  follows:  The 
income  from  $1,000.00,  to  the  treasurer  of  the  District  of 
Marshpee.  One  half  of  the  income  from  $1,200.00,  to  the 
guardian  of  the  Chappequiddick  and  Christiantown  indians, 
and  one  half  to  the  benefit  of  the  indians  at  Gay  Head ;  And  to 
the  treasurer  of  the  Herring  Pond  indians,  the  income  of  $300.00. 
All  of  the  income  to  be  used  for  the  support  of  schools  in  said 
places."  I  have  copied  this  last  section  to  show  some  of  the 
wards  the  state  had  seventy-five  years  ago. 

I  learn  from  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  that  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  received,  in  three  payments,  the  sum 
of  $1,335,673.58. 

The  State  Treasurer  informs  me  that  there  was  paid  for  the 
town  of  Wilbraham  as  follows:  "On  May  17,  1837  there  was 
paid  to  Hon.  John  Howard  $2,965.65."  And,  "on  July  27, 
1837,  there  was  paid  to  C.  Sprague  Esq.  $1,146.10."  Making 
a  total  of  $4,111.75.  The  State  Treasurer  says:  "  It  is  apparent 
that  in  1837  these  checks  were  drawn  to  individuals.  I  assume 
that  Messrs.  Howard  and  Sprague  must  have  been  designated 
by  the  town  to  receive  this  money."  I  do  not  find  that  there 
were  any  such  men  as  "Hon.  John  Howard,"  or,  "C.  Sprague 
Esq.,"  then  living  in  this  town,  or  in  any  of  the  surrounding 
towns,  at  that  time.  But  evidently  the  town  received  the 
money.  The  town  treasurer's  account  for  many  years,  shows 
that  he  received  "$56.09,  interest  on  the  town  loan"  each  year, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  229 

previous  to  1838.  Which  would  imply  that  the  fund  then 
was  $934.84. 

Beginning  with  1838,  the  sum  received  for  interest  is  much 
more,  sometimes  more  than  $300  in  one  year.  On  March  29, 
1839,  the  treasurer  credits  himself,  "Cash  paid  for  Blank  Book 
for  Committee  on  Loans,  $1.25." 

Probably  the  several  funds  were  placed  with  the  Loan  Com- 
mittee, and  loaned  by  them  to  individuals,  and  when  the 
interest  was  paid  to  the  committee,  it  was  handed  over  by 
them  to  the  town  treasurer.  The  first  definite  reference  in  the 
treasurer's  account  to  the  surplus  revenue,  that  I  have  found 
is,  "Mar.  28,  1838,  By  Cash  Surplus  Revenue  for  Bridge 
$300.00."  Probably  this  $300  was  used  in  building  the  bridge 
over  the  Chicopee  River,  called  "Red  Bridge."  For,  on  April 
6,  1837,  the  town  "Voted  to  unite  with  the  town  of  Ludlow  in 
rebuilding  the  bridge  over  Chicopee  river  near  Jonathan  Burr's," 
and  chose  "John  Carpenter  and  Abel  Bliss  a  committee  to  carry 
the  same  into  effect."  The  next  reference  is,  "Apr..  2,  1838, 
Voted  that  when  the  town  receives  the  residue  of  the  Surplus 
Revenue  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  take  $450.00  of  the 
same  to  pay  monies  they  have  borrowed." 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  town  ever  received  any  surplus 
revenue  from  the  state,  after  July  27,  1837.  On  April  26,  1837, 
"Luther  Brewer,  Wm.  S.  Burt  and  John  Carpenter  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  take  care  of  all  Loan  Money  belonging  to  the 
Town,"  and  instructed  to  loan  no  man  more  than  five  hundred 
dollars  at  one  time."  As  I  have  said,  the  town  had  the  right  to 
use  this  Surplus  Revenue  fund  for  ordinary  expenses.  But  it 
was  loaned  out  for  some  years.  As  near  as  I  can  ascertain,  it 
was  probably  used  as  follows  (Copied  from  treasurer's  account 
of  receipts) : 

"  Mar.  28,  1838,  Surplus  Revenue  for  Bridge  $300.00 

Oct.  17,  &  25,  1851,  (probably  for  bridge  at  North  Wilbraham)  1985.95 

Jan.  5,  &  15,  1852,            "           "         "       "       "             "  163.50 

IMar.  31,  &  Apr.  3,  1852  "           "         "       "       "             "  184.55 

Apr.  7,  1856  487.50 

In  Mar.  Apr.  May  &  Nov.  1863,  (War  expenses  probably)  914.13 

$4,035.63" 


230  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

This  would  nearly  use  up  the  Surplus  Revenue  which  the 
town  received. 

Then  there  was  the  Town  Loan,  which  would  include  the 
Deacon  Warriner  legacy  of  $666.66,  and  the  amount  derived 
from  the  sale  of  the  two  school  lots,  about  $416,  total  $1,082.66. 

The  treasurer  also  received,  in  addition  to  the  amounts 
given  above, 

"Mar.  28,  1864  From  Town  Loan  Com.  799.87 

July  20,  1864       "  "     School  fund  98.67 

Nov.  22,  1851      "  "         "  "  101.91 


1010.45" 


These  accounts  do  not  quite  balance,  and  the  remainder  was 
doubtless  received  by  the  treasurer  and  entered  with  the 
"interest  from  loan  Com." 

Previous  to  1837,  the  interest  on  the  Town  Loan,  for  many 
years,  was  $56.09.  That  would  be  the  interest,  at  6  per  cent  on 
$934.84. 

From  1838  to  about  1863  the  tteasurer  received  different 
amounts  each  year  as  "interest  on  the  town  loan." 

The  town,  having  used  the  funds,  to  pay  various  expenses, 
the  selectmen  gave  a  note  to  the  Loan  Committee,  probably 
in  1866.  The  note  probably  was  for  $1,705.17.  The  yearly 
interest  on  that  note,  at  6  per  cent,  would  be  $102.31,  and  that 
sum  was  paid  each  year  as  interest  on  the  ' '  Town  Loan  "  up  to 
March  15th,  1878,  when  the  South  Parish  was  set  off  as  the 
Town  of  Hampden,  and  I  suppose  they  assumed  their  propor- 
tion of  the  town  debts,  according  to  the  respective  valuation  of 
the  two  parishes,  which  was,  North  Parish,  about  8-13,  South 
Parish  about  5-13  of  the  entire  valuation  of  the  town,  which  was, 
$950,649. 

The  present  Town  Loan  Committee,  Mr.  J.  M.  Perry,  in- 
forms me  that  the  note  which  he  now  has  is  dated  March  31, 
1911,  and  signed  by  F.  W.  Green  and  G.  L.  Rindge,  selectmen, 
and  was  given  to  replace  one  that  had  become  dilapidated. 
The  amount  of  the  note  is  $1308.40,  and  the  interest,  $78.50,  is 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  231 

paid  yearly  by  the  town  and  added  to  the  amount  appropriated 
for  schools. 

The  source  from  which  this  fund  was  derived  was  about  as 
follows : 

1780,  Legacy  from  Deacon  Nathaniel  Warriner,  $666.66 
1772,  Sale  of  2  School  lots,  8-13  of  same,  about,  256.00 
Other  Sources,  perhaps  some  from  surplus  revenue,  385.74 


$1,308.40 


A  Mr.  Clark,  who  left  the  county,  is  said  to  have  given  his 
lot  for  the  support  of  schools. 

It  is  quite  probable  that  within  a  few  years  the  town  will  be 
required  to  restore  this  fund,  and  place  it  on  deposit,  so  that 
there  will  be  an  actual  income  received  from  it,  which  will  be 
applied  to  the  support  of  schools.  The  state  authorities  are 
looking  up  such  matters  in  the  towns  throughout  the  state,  and 
in  some  cases  have  found  that  such  funds  have  disappeared, 
probably  through  carefessness  in  bookkeeping,  and  the  source 
from  which  the  fund  was  derived,  or  the  names  of  the  donors  of 
it,  have  been  forgotten.  In  the  case  of  Wilbraham,  the  town 
borrowed  the  money  from  the  Town  Loan  Committee  and  gave 
a  note  for  it.  The  interest  has  been  paid  yearly  and  added  to 
the  amount  appropriated  for  schools.  If  it  is  restored,  as  I 
expect  it  will  be,  I  hope  it  will  be  deposited  in  a  savings  bank 
and  called.  The  Deacon  Warriner  &  School  Lot  Fund. 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written,  eight  reports  of  the  Town 
Loan  Committee  have  been  found  among  bundles  of  old  papers 
in  the  town  clerk's  oflEice.  They  are  for  the  years  ending  April 
1st,  1842,  '43,  '44,  1852,  '53,  '54,  '55,  '57.  In  the  earlier  reports 
the  accounts  of  the  "Old  Town  Loan"  and  of  the  "Surplus 
Revenue"  are  kept  separate.  In  1843,  the  total  amount  of  the 
"Old  Town  Loan"  is  reported  to  be  $934.61,  and  the  "Surplus 
Revenue"  as  $4,111.65.  These  figures  vary  but  a  few  cents 
from  those  which  I  have  previously  given.  In  1852,  the  "Com- 
mittee on  the  Town  Loan  and  Surplus  Revenue"  report,  "That 
agreeabel  to  a  Vote  of  the  Town  last  April,  we  have  collected 
the  amount  required,  on  obligations  notes  and  bonds  due  the 


232 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


town,  the  sum  of  $2,334.00,  and  have  paid  the  same  to  the 
Town  Treasurer."  As  I  have  already  said,  most  of  this  last 
sum  was  probably  used  to  build  the  bridge  over  Chicopee  River, 
at  North  Wilbraham.  Judging  from  these  reports,  the  figures 
which  I  have  previously  given  are  substantially  correct. 


BRIDGE  OVER  CHICOPEE  RIVER  AT  NORTH  WILBRAHAM. 
Built  about  1852. 


THE  MILLERITE  EXCITEMENT 

The  history  of  the  times,  from  about  1840,  to  about  1860, 
would  hardly  be  complete  without  some  reference  to  the  weird 
and  startling  teachings  of  a  class  of  preachers  who  proclaimed, 
with  great  earnestness  and  zeal,  that  the  end  of  the  world  was 
swiftly  approaching. 

The  "Stebbins  History"  says:  "Then  came  the  Millerites, 
or  'Adventists'  as  they  are  now  called,  and  awakened  great 
interest  and  not  a  little  terror  in  some  minds,  by  their  '  demon- 
strations '  from  the  horns  of  Daniel's  beasts,  and  the  '  time  and 
times  and  half  a  time '  of  his  prophecies,  that  the  world  would 
be  burned  up  in  April  1843.  Fortunately  or  unfortunately,  the 
consuming  fire  did  not  descend  nor  the  watching  saints  ascend, 
and  the  '  demonstrations '  failing,  a  large  portion  of  the  interest 
failed  with  it."  But  the  interest  continued  to  some  extent. 
About  1854,  I  remember  hearing  Dr.  Abial  Bottom,  of  South 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  233 

Wilbraham,  telling  m>'  great-uncle,  Dr.  Gideon  Kibbe,  of  an 
experience  of  his,  while  driving  along  our  Main  Street  towards 
his  home,  a  little  south  of  "The  Green."  It  was  in  the  early 
evening  and  suddenly  his  horse  stopped,  apparently  half 
frightened  at  something  he  saw  up  in  a  tree  close  at  hand.  The 
doctor  himself  looked  and  saw  a  shape  resembling  a  human 
figure,  up  among  the  branches  and  he  asked,  "What  are  you 
doing  up  there,  this  time  of  night "" "  A  woman's  voice  answered, 
substantially,  "Before  the  morning  sun  shall  rise,  the  fires  from 
heaven  will  descend  and  this  earth  will  be  melted  in  the  fierce 
heat.  I  have  on  my  ascension  robe,  and  am  waiting  to  be 
wafted  to  fhe  realms  of  light  beyond  the  skies."  The  .sound  of 
the  woman's  voice  relieved  the  anxiety  of  the  horse,  and  the 
doctor  drove  on  to  his  home  without  giving  any  advice. 

About  1854,  a  bam  was  burned  on  the  east  side  of  our  Main 
Street,  just  north  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  lot.  I  heard  it 
told  that  a  meeting  was  held  in  a  near-by  house,  an  evening  or 
two  afterwards,  and  one  of  the  speakers,  in  a  state  of  great 
excitement,  was  discussing  the  imminent  conflagration  of  the 
world,  and  he  went  on  to  tell  how  the  trial  of  fire  had  already 
commenced,  and  said,  "Before  another  week  shall  pass,  the 
fires  shall  descend  and  destroy  another  building  here  in  Wilbra- 
ham." Sure  enough,  within  the  week,  the  barn  next  to  the 
other  took  fire  and  was  entirely  destroyed. 

One  of  these  barns  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  house  now  owned 
by  F.  A.  Gumey,  and  the  other  in  rear  of  the  old  "Virgin 
House"  which  was  torn  down  a  few  years  ago.  I  do  not  re- 
member which  burned  first.  I  was  then  about  ten  years  old 
and,  with  other  boys,  ran  to  each  fire,  when  the  alarm  bell 
sounded. 

I  remember  attending  a  camp  meeting,  in  the  grove  on  the 
hill  easterly  of  Grace  Church,  in  1854,  or  1855,  when  the 
Crimean  War  was  being  fought,  and  the  speaker  referred  to  the 
conflict  then  being  waged  in  the  Far  East,  and  went  on  to  say 
that  the  war  in  the  Crimea  would  spread  over  the  entire  earth, 
and  that  every  nation  of  the  world  would  become  involved  in 
it,  and,  "THEN  THE  END  WILL  COME." 


"234  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

In  these  days,  it  is  hard  to  realize  the  state  of  mind  of  those 
persons  who  believed  in  that  doctrine.  But  I  believe  that  most 
of  them  were  sincere. 

The  following  is  copied  from  a  sermon,  delivered  on  the  pre- 
diction that  the  world  would  come  to  an  end  in  1843. 


THE  FALSE  ALARM 

A 

DISCOURSE, 

ON  THE  SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES, 

AS  REPRESENTED  BY  MR.  MILLER  AND  OTHERS, 
TO  PORTEND 

THE  SECOND  COMING  OF  CHRIST  IN 
THE  YEAR  1843. 

DELIVERED    IN 

The   Congregational   Church, 
SOUTH  WILBRAHAM 

Sabbath  Evening,  June  12th,  1842. 
By  JAMES  A.  HAZEN, 

PASTOR    OF    THE    CHURCH. 


"A  copy  of  the  sermon  was  furnished  for  publication  at  the 
request  of  a  committee  from  the  society,  dated  June  23,  1842, 
and  signed  by: 

S.  Clark  Spelman,   1 

Cortez  Russell,         [   Committee 

John  S.  Beebe,         J 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  235 

"DISCOURSE 

"But  can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times?"— Matt.  16:3. 
.  .  .  .  "It  is  not  my  present  design  to  go  into  a  general  con- 
sideration of  the  signs  of  the  times. 

"My  course  is  determined  by  recent  strange  doings  in  the 
community.  A  class  of  men  have  arisen,  who  by  means  of 
papers,  books,  and  public  lectures,  are  attempting  to  alarm 
the  public  mind,  with  the  idea  that  some  unusual  crisis  is  at 
hand.  They  boldly  maintain,  that  the  signs  of  the  present 
time  are  such  as  the  scriptures  inform  us  shall  immediately 
precede  the  second  coming  of  Christ,  and  the  dissolution  of  the 
world. 

"The  awful  nature  of  the  subject  forbids,  that  in  handling  it, 
I  should  have  any  regard  to  personal  feelings  or  prejudices. 
....  (He  then  speaks  of  some  interesting  phenomena  in 
those  times,  and  says):  "Our  only  course,  therefore,  is  to  look 
back,  and  to  compare  the  present  with  the  past.  Go  back,  then, 
in  imagination,  one  hundred  years,  and  look  around  upon  the 
prodigies  then  taking  place.  .  .  .  (He  then  mentions  an 
earthquake  of  prodigious  extent  in  Europe  and  Africa  which) 
....  has  shaken  half  the  globe,  buried  cities  in  ruins,  split 
the  earth  into  hideous  chasms,  which  have  swallowed  many 
thousands  of  mankind  ....  and  tossed  the  ocean  into  an 
unusual  ferment  for  thousands  of  miles.  .  .  .  Strange  meteros, 
....  a  fiery  bloody-colored  sky  ....  three  unusual 
circles  intersecting  the  sun  and  each  other.  .  .  .  This  is  a 
description  given  by  an  eye-witness,  of  events  which  took  place 
about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  So  far  is  it  from  being 
true  that  the  present  time  is  distinguished  by  such  events,  that 
you  can  fix  on  no  period  since  the  beginning  of  the  Christian 
era,  when  they  have  been  less  frequent.  ...  So  far,  there- 
fore, as  these  signs  are  concerned,  we  should  suppose  that  we 
were  on  the  eve  of  the  reign  of  universal  peace,  rather  than  of 
the  world's  dissolution.  I  must  then  ask.  What  think  3^e  of  the 
men,  who  in  the  face  of  these  facts,  presume  to  talk  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner  ?  '  Who  is  so  blind  as  not  to  be  able  to  see  in  the 
present  age  a  fulfillment  of  the  above-mentioned  signs.  .  .  '  ?* 
....  Think  again  of  that  strange  compound  of  reason  and 
madness,  Emmanuel  Swedenborg,  the  learned  Swedish  noble- 
man. What  was  the  main  element  of  his  delusion  ?  It  was,  that 
in  1757,  Christ  came  to  judgment,  and  began  the  new  heavens, 


*  "The  Midnight  Cry,"  p.  65. 


236  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

and  the  new  earth !  That  strange  community  the  Shakers,  had 
their  origin  also,  in  the  same  thing.  Anna  Leese,  their  mother, 
maintained  that  her  coming  was  the  second  coming  of  Christ! 
And  the  Mormons — the  abhorrence,  and  the  laughing  stock  of 
the  world,  interweave  the  same  doctrine  into  their  abominable 
system.    .    .    . 

"How  unhappy  for  their  cause,  then,  is  the  metaphor  which 
these  nien  employ,  when  they  say  'The  gospel,  like  the  sun, 
arose  in  the  East,  and  will  set  in  the  West!'  ....  They 
maintain  with  the  boldest  effrontry,  that  the  result  of  their 
speculations  upon  the  prophecies,  has  the  same  claim  to  our 
belief  as  any  doctrine  of  revealed  truth.  .  .  .  The  natural 
result  of  such  a  representation,  I  need  not  describe.  When 
yonder  little  girl  said,  'Mother,  I  want  to  die  this  summer — 
1  don't  want  to  live  next  year  and  be  burnt  up,'  she  gave  a 
better  view  of  it  than  could  be  obtained  from  any  lengthened 
description  of  mine.  And  now  it  is  proclaimed  to  the  world, 
that  God  does  'own  and  bless'  the  preaching  of  this  doctrine. 
....  Now  my  friends,  I  place  myself  in  imagination  for- 
ward beyond  the  year  1843.  ...  I  see  the  sun  as  usual  rolling 
around  "the  world,  and  men  engaged  as  they  now  are,  in  the 
pursuits  of  life.  I  pause  and  listen  to  the  talk  of  different  classes 
of  men.  Yonder  I  see  a  club  of  infidels,  and  as  they  make 
merry,  and  fill  the  air  with  profane  jests,  I  hear  such  expressions 
as  these :  '  Aye,  I  knew  it  was  so.  The  Bible  is  proved  a  lie,  and 
its  religion  priestcraft.'  I  see  them — with  new  zeal  scatter  the 
books  of  Voltaire  and  Paine,  and  with  them  'The  Midnight 
Cry ' !  I  look  again,  and  I  see  another  circle,  who  talk  in  the 
following  manner:  'Aye,  I  knew  it  was  so.  The  notion  of  a 
general  judgment  is  a  bugbear;  the  necessity  of  conversion  is 
a  mere  dogma;  revivals  of  religion  are  all  a  farce.'  .... 
Oh,  tell  me  not  that  this  will  do  no  harm.  I  therefore  feel 
called  upon  for  myself,  and  in  behalf  of  the  friends  of  truth, 
now  beforehand,  solemnly  to  protest,  that  we  disown  all  par- 
ticipation in  this  scheme,  and  we  disclaim  all  responsibility  for 
its  results.  .  .  .  And  to  the  man,  who,  in  1844,  shall  attempt 
to  turn  this  scheme  and  its  results  against  the  Bible,  and  against 
religion.  I  say  Hold!  This  scheme  is  no  part  of  the  Bible. 
.  .  .  .  It  is  a  scheme  of  wicked  or  deluded  men;  and  to  their 
account  place  its  results.  .  .  .  Let  nothing  which  I  have  said 
lead  to  the  idea,  that  I  have  any  feeling  of  animosity  toward 
the  men,  who  are  engaged  in  propagating  this  scheme.  For  if 
they  are  under  a  delusion,  I  do  most  sincerely,  and  deeply  pity 
them.    .    .    .    But  if  my  fellow  men  will  not  hear  this  message, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  237 

which  God  has  bid  me  deliver,  I  may  not  resort  to  cunningly 
devised  fables:  for  the  moment  that  I  do,  I  place  myself  on 
the  same  level  with  the  priest  of  the  heathen  temple,  and  the 
minister  of  the  man  of  sin.  The  gospel  which  we  preach  com- 
mends itself  to  every  man's  conscience;  and  God  forbid  that 
I  should  forsake  this  and  turn  to  fables.  .  .  .  May  God  give 
me  grace  never  to  fear  to  speak  the  whole  truth,  when  duty 
demands  it,  even  though  I  shall  thereby  drive  from  me  mv 
nearest  friends." 

THE  CIVIL  WAR 

In  introducing  the  subject  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Dr. 
Stebbins  said:  "The  epic  of  this  period  yet  remains  to  be 
recited.  ...  In  this  hour  of  our  country's  trial  and  peril, 
when  the  continent  trembles  tmder  the  tread  of  contending 
armies,  and  the  air  is  torn  with  the  thunder  of  cannon,  and  the 
war  shout." 

If  the  Revolutionary  War  was  the  epic  of  that  period,  then 
the  account  of  the  times  which  we  are  approaching,  may  be 
called  the  story  of  the  tragic  days  of  1861-1865. 

At  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town,  speaking  of  the  work  which  had  been  wrought  here  by 
our  ancestors,  Rev.  Dr.  Stebbins,  near  the  close  of  his  address, 
said: 

"As  they  nobly  bore  their  share  in  the  burdens  and  perils  of 
the  war  of  invasion,  and  of  independence,  so  now  you  rise  in 
the  glory  of  your  strength  to  crush  rebellion  and  vindicate  free- 
dom. If  Warriner,  and  Warner,  and  Merrick,  and  Bliss,  and 
Brewer,  and  Chapin,  and  Langdon,  and  Stebbins,  and  Morris, 
rushed  to  the  field  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  British  oppression, 
and  wring  from  royal  lips  the  confession  of  our  independence 
and  nationality,  their  sons,  not  less  patriotic,  not  less  heroic, 
have  left  home  and  wdfe  and  child,  to  '  preserve '  the  sacred  ark 
of  liberty  and  the  holy  standard  of  freedom.  The  blood  of  the 
loved  and  the  brave  has  been  poured  out  like  water  that  the 
sin  of  oppression  may  be  attoned  for ;  and  the  cry  for  help  from 
the  struggling  country  ....  will  not  be  disregarded.  .  .  . 
The  hour  of  God's  eternal  purpose  has  struck.  Not  sprinkled 
with  the  blood  of  lambs,  but  with  the  blood  of  men,  does  he 
now  keep  his  people's  passover.     The  flaming  sword  of  the 


238  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

avenging  angel  stretches  over  the  land,  and  the  bondmen  go 
out  under  it.    Glory  to  God  in  the  Highest." 

Today,  fifty  years  afterwards,  it  is  hard  for  most  of  us  to 
realize  the  tremendous  import  of  those  prophetic  words. 

When  they  were  spoken  here,  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was 
at  its  worst.  The  battle  of  Gettysburg  had  not  been  fought, 
and  Vicksburg  had  not  fallen.  The  tide  of  battle,  of  victory 
and  defeat,  flowed  backward  and  forward  in  an  irregular  line 
across  the  continent,  from  the  Atlantic  to  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi, in  an  awful  sea  of  blood. 

At  that  time,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  men  of 
Wilbraham,  with  sword  or  musket  in  their  hands,  offered  their 
bodies  as  a  breastwork  to  stay  the  on-rushing  forces  of  dis- 
union and  disintegration.  And  today,  because  of  their  heroic 
service,  and  that  of  the  hundreds  of  thousands  who  served  with 
them,  we  have  a  reunited,  and  a  United  country.  It  is  prac- 
tically impossible,  at  this  time,  to  convey  to  the  minds  of  the 
generations  bom  since  those  eventful  days,  any  conception  of 
the  feeling  of  intense  anxiety  and  suppressed  excitement  which 
pervaded  the  entire  North  during  the  early  part  of  1861,  and 
for  several  years  previous. 

The  question  of  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  new  states, 
then  being  settled  in  the  West,  kept  the  entire  country  in  a 
turmoil  of  excitement.  A  special  committee  of  Congress  was 
appointed  to  investigate  the  "Troubles  in  Kansas. "  A  minority 
of  the  committee  reported  in  1856.  Their  report  fills  a  volume 
of  more  than  twelve  hundred  pages.  On  page  445,  I  find  that 
Edmund  Jones  voted  at  an  election  held  in  their  town  of 
Lawrence  on  March  30,  1855.  Edmund  Jones  was  a  Wilbraham 
man.  How  long  he  remained  out  there  I  do  not  know.  But 
late  in  the  autumn  of  1855  or  1856  he  came  back  to  Wilbraham, 
and  one  evening  quite  a  large  company  of  his  friends  and 
neighbors  gathered  in  the  old  First  Church  (the  one  which  was 
moved  down  from  Wigwam  Hill),  while  he  told  some  of  his 
experiences  in  that  hastily  settled  state.  "Bleeding  Kansas," 
it  was  then  generally  called. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  239 

As  I  remember  the  occasion,  the  incidents  he  related  were 
mostly  concerning  the  numerous  street  brawls  and  fights  which 
occurred  among  those  early  pioneers,  drawn  there  by  the  all- 
important  question  of  whether  Kansas  should  be  a  free  or  a 
slave  state.  We  may  well  believe  that,  through  him,  Wilbra- 
ham had  a  voice,  or  a  vote,  in  settling  that  important  question. 
Mr.  Jones  lived  for  a  good  many  years  in  the  house  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  Street,  opposite  the  road  which  leads  up  to  the 
Woodland  Dell  Cemetery.  It  is  the  house  with  the  colonial 
pillars.    He  built  it. 

The  question  of  the  extension  of  slavery  had  agitated  the 
country  for  a  long  time,  and  was  regarded  by  different  sections 
of  our  union  of  states  in  such  an  entirely  different  way,  that 
none  of  the  compromises  attempted  were  sufficient  to  settle  the 
difficulty,  and  one  sad  day,  April  12th,  1861,  the  voice  of  the 
cannon  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  United  States  forces  at 
Fort  Sumter,  S.  C.  On  April  15th,  only  three  days  later,  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  called  for  75,000  volunteers  for  three  months.  On 
April  20th,  1861,  Charles  E.  Buell,  of  this  town,  enlisted  in 
answer  to  that  call.  He  was  the  first  man  to  enlist  from  Wil- 
braham, and  when  the  three  months  were  completed,  he 
reenlisted  into  the  10th  Massachusetts  Infantry,  which  was 
then  gathering  on  Hampden  Park  in  Springfield.  His  home 
was  about  one  mile  north  of  our  Center  village,  on  the  west  side 
of  Main  Street,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Knowlton  lived 
until  a  short  time  ago.  The  place  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  0.  L. 
Millard.  The  cannon  at  Fort  Sumter  aroused  the  North  as 
from  a  trance,  party  distinctions  were  for  a  time  swept  away, 
and  there  was  but  one  party  worth  the  name — the  party  for  the 
Union.  In  Wilbraham,  "War  Meetings,"  usually  addressed  by 
local  speakers,  were  held  every  few  weeks,  in  one  of  the  churches, 
and  the  principal  thought  in  each  address  was,  "The  Union,  It 
Must  And  Shall  Be  Preserved."  And  the  young  men  were 
importuned  and  entreated  to  give  their  lives,  if  need  be,  to 
preserve  the  Union  established  by  the  fathers.  And — the 
young  men  responded.  About  sixty  enlisted  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year  of  1861,  and  before  the  war  was  ended  the 


240  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

town  of  Wilbraham  had  furnished  228  men  for  the  army  and 
navy,  as  shown  on  the  Rebellion  Records  of  our  town.  The 
"History  of  Massachusetts  in  the  Civil  War,"  published  by 
William  Schouler  in  1871,  gives  us  credit  for  "two  hundred  and 
twenty  three  men  for  the  war  (and  adds)  which  was  a  surplus  of 
twenty-six  over  and  above  all  demands.  .  .  .  Four  were  com- 
missioned officers.  .  .  .  The  whole  amount  of  money  appro- 
priated and  expended  by  the  town  on  account  of  the  war, 
exclusive  of  State  aid,  was  thirteen  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty-five  dollars.     ($13,255.00). 

The  amount  of  money  raised  and  expended  by  the  town  for 
State  aid  to  soldiers  families  during  the  war,  and  which  was 
repaid  by  the  Commonwealth,  was  ten  thousand  eight  hundred 
six  dollars  and  ten  cents.  ($10,806.10)."  The  same  History 
says:  "The  ladies  of  Wilbraham  contributed  liberally  of  their 
time  and  means  to  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers.  One  lady  made 
two  feather-beds  into  pillows  for  them." 

The  pillows  were  probably  sent  to  some  hospital.  They 
would  have  been  comfortable  in  camp  but  very  inconvenient 
to  carry  while  on  the  march. 

No  bounties  were  paid  to  those  who  enlisted  until  after 
July  1st,  1862.  On  July  26th,  1862,  "The  selectmen  were 
authorized  to  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  each 
volunteer  for  three  years'  service,  when  mustered  in  and 
credited  to  the  quota  of  the  town,  the  number  not  to  exceed 
twenty.  On  August  28,  1862,  the  town  voted  to  pay  a  bounty 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  volunteer  for 
nine  months'  service,  and  about  one  month  later  this  amount 
was  increased  to  two  hundred  dollars.  On  July  28,  1864,  the 
treasurer  was  authorized  to  borrow,  not  exceeding  eight  thou- 
sand dollars,  "to  be  called  a  recruiting  fund,"  and  to  be  used  to 
procure  men  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  recent  call 
of  the  President  for  more  men.  It  having  been  reported  that 
some  of  the  men  who  had  enlisted  from  Wilbraham  had  been 
credited  to  other  towns,  Porter  Cross  and  Sumner  Smith  were 
chosen  "to  investigate  the  matter  at  Boston,"  and  have  the 
rolls  there  corrected. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  241 

At  a  meeting  held  January  16th,  1865,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  passed: 

"Resolved,  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be  tendered  to  General 
B.  F.  Butler  for  his  services  in  the  United  States  military 
department  during  the  present  civil  war." 

The  injustice  of  paying  bounties  to  the  soldiers  who  enlisted 
in  the  second,  third,  or  fourth  years  of  the  war,  and  not  paying 
anything  to  those  who  enlisted  during  the  first  year,  has  been 
considered  for  a  long  time,  until  the  legislature  of  1912  passed 
"An  Act  to  provide  for  suitably  rewarding  certain  veteran 
soldiers  and  sailors."  Chapter  702,  Acts  of  1912:  "For  the 
purpose  of  promoting  the  spirit  of  loyalty  and  patriotism,  and 
in  recognition  of  the  sacrifice  made  both  for  the  commonwealth 
and  for  the  United  States  by  those  veteran  soldiers  and  sailors 
who  volunteered  their  services  in  the  civil  war,  ....  a  gra- 
tuity of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  veteran 
(then  living),  is  hereby  authorized  to  be  paid  from  the  treasury 
of  the  commonwealth.  (To  those  not  having  received  any 
bounty  from  the  state  or  any  town,  and  not  being  intended  as 
an  equalization  of  bounty),  ....  but  a  testimonial  for 
meritorious  service,  such  as  the  commonwealth  may  rightly 
give,  and  such  as  her  sons  may  honorably  accept  and  receive." 
So  far  as  I  have  learned,  there  are  only  two  veteran  soldiers  of 
Wilbraham  now  living,  who  are  entitled  to  this  gratuity,  James 
S.  Morgan,  and 

The  war  ended  in  the  summer  of  1865,  and  the  flags  which 
the  different  regiments  had  borne  in  that  conflict,  some  of  them 
in  many  battles,  were  returned  to  the  custody  of  the  state  on 
December  22,  1865. 

"The  Adjutant  General  of  Massachusetts,  in  his  report  for 
that  year,  addressed  to  the  Governor,  says:  'The  most  inter- 
esting State  military  ceremony  at  the  close  of  the  war,  was  the 
reception,  by  your  Excellency,  of  the  colors  of  the  different 
regiments  and  batteries  at  the  State  House,  on  the  22nd  of 
December,  the  two  hundred  and  forty-flfth  anniversary  of  the 
landing   of   the    'Pilgrim   Fathers,'    at   Plymouth.      It   was   a 


242  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

ceremony  which  can  never  be  repeated,  and  will  forever  form 
an  interesting  part  of  the  written  and  performed  history  of  the 
war.'  Nearly  every  Massachusetts  regiment  was  represented 
in  the  column  of  veterans  which  bore  the  battle  flags  to  the 
State  House.  The  head  of  the  procession  reached  the  Capitol 
about  one  o-clock.  As  the  regiments  arrived,  the  color-bearers 
deployed  upon  the  steps  in  front  of  the  edifice,  while  the  re- 
mainder gathered  in  the  yards  on  either  side.  A  prayer  was 
offered;  then  Major  General  Darius  N.  Couch,  the  ranking 
officer  of  volunteers  in  Massachusetts,  addressed  Governor 
Andrew  (in  part)  as  follows: 

"  'May  it  please  your  Excellency:  We  have  come  here 
to-day  as  the  representatives  of  the  army  of  volunteers  fur- 
nished by  Massachusetts  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion, 
bringing  these  colors  in  order  to  return  them  to  the  State  who 
intrusted  them  to  our  keeping.  You  must,  however,  pardon  us 
if  we  give  them  up  with  profound  regret. — It  is,  sir,  a  peculiar 
satisfaction  and  pleasure  to  us  that  you — who  have  been  identi- 
fied with  every  organization  before  you,  are  now  here  to  receive 
back  as  the  State  custodian  of  her  precious  relics,  these  emblems 
of  the  devotion  of  her  sons.  May  it  please  your  Excellency,  the 
colors  of  the  Massachusetts  Volunteers  are  returned  to  the 
State.'  Gov.  Andrew  replied  in  the  following  brief  but  beautiful 
and  eloquent  address :  '  General :  This  pageant,  so  full  of  pathos 
and  of  glory,  forms  the  concluding  scene  in  the  long  series  of 
visible  actions  and  events,  in  which  Massachusetts  has  borne  a 
part,  for  the  overthrow  of  rebellion  and  the  vindication  of  the 
Union.  These  banners  return  to  the  Government  of  the  Com- 
monwealth through  welcome  hands.  Borne,  one  by  one,  out  of 
this  Capitol,  during  more  than  four  years  of  civil  war,  as  the 
symbols  of  the  Nation  and  the  Commonwealth,  under  which 
the  battalions  of  Massachusetts  departed  to  the  field — they 
come  back  again,  borne  hither  by  surviving  representatives  of 
the  same  heroic  regiments  and  companies  to  which  they  were 
intrusted.  .  .  .  Proud  memories  of  many  a  field;  sweet 
memories  alike  of  valor  and  friendship;  sad  memories  of  fra- 
ternal strife;  tender  memories  of  our  fallen  brothers  and  sons, 
whose  djdng  eyes  looked  last  upon  their  flaming  folds;  grand 
memories  of  heroic  virtues  sublimed  by  grief;  exultant  memories 
of  the  great  and  final  Victory  of  our  Country,  our  Union  and 
the  Righteous  Cause;  thankful  memories  of  a  deliverance 
wrought  out  for  Himian  Nature  itself,  unexampled  by  any 
former  achievement  of  arms;  immortal  memories  with  im- 
mortal honors  blended,  twine  around  these  staves,  weave  them- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  243 

selves  along  the  warp  and  woof  of  these  familiar  flags,  war- 
worn, begrimmed  and  baptized  with  blood.  .  .  .  General:  I 
accept  these  relics  in  behalf  of  the  people  and  the  Government. 
They  will  be  preserved  and  cherished,  amid  all  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  future,  as  mementoes  of  brave  men  and  noble  actions' 
....  The  immense  throng  then  dispersed,  and  the  colors 
were  placed  in  the  Doric  Hall  of  the  vState  House." 

The  Adjutant  General  concludes  his  report  of  that  occasion 
as  follows : 

"As  a  fitting  finale  to  this  grand  pageant,  I  place  on  record 
the  noble  lyric  addressed  to  your  Excellency  by  a  gentleman 
who  has  borne  a  brave  and  noble  part  in  this  great  war; — one 
who,  when  the  war  begun,  was  chief  of  your  personal  staff,  and 
who  afterwards  resigned  that  position  and  went  to  the  war  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  Massachusetts 
Cavalry,  afterwards  promoted  to  Colonel,  and  who,  wounded 
and  broken  in  health,  came  home  after  three  years  active 
military  service,  with  the  stars  of  a  Brigadier  General  upon  his 
shoulders,  earned  by  meritorious  conduct  and  conspicuous 
gallantry.  .  .  .  Severe  domestic  affliction  prevented  Briga- 
dier-General Sargent  from  appearing  in  the  procession.  He 
saw  it  from  his  window  pass  along.  The  sight  filled  his  heart, 
and  he  wrote  this  lyric: — " 

(I,  personally,  take  a  particular  pride  in  this  lyric,  because, 
The  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  was  my  regiment.  I  copy 
a  part.) 

"THE  RETURN  OF  THE  STANDARDS 

"Hark  to  the  fife  and  drum! 
Look  at  them!     How  they  come! 
Horse  and  foot,  how  they  come ! 
All  of  them  ?     No !  for  some — - 
Some  of  the  best  of  them — 
Azrael  tested  them — 
Did  not  come  back. 

Where  are  the  rest  of  them. 
Some  of  the  youngest, 
And  bravest,  and  best  of  them? 
Ask  parlor  strategists, 
Wont  to  make  jest  of  them ! 
Azrael,  Azrael,  Azrael  tested  them. 


244  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"Here  comes  my  regiment, — 
God !  what  a  skeleton ! 
Hardly  a  peloton 
Of  the  battalions 
That  went  from  the  land ! 

Hush !     Look  at  the  flanks  of  them ! 
See  those  dim  ranks  of  them ! 
Violet  banks  of  them ! 
All  the  command ! 
As  it  loomed  in  the  old  time 
From  fog  of  Sea  Islands 
And  black  whirlwinds  of  sand. 

^  ^  ^  ^  ili: 

' '  Ah !     That  fierce  gathering ! 
Quivering !     Quivering ! 
Cloud  rack,  all  feathery, 
Against  the  wind  shivering! 
Sabres  bend  trembling, 
In  hands  of  the  dead ! 
Like  fog  meeting  headland, 
These  spectres  from  Deadland, 
These  ghosts  of  the  red-hand. 
From  over  the  Border, 
Break  ranks  in  disorder. 
And  melt  against  shadows 
Of  sunlight  and  shade. 

"The  startled  air  quivers; 
The  pageant  has  fled. 
Their  presence  but  seeming ! 
The  soldiers  are  dreaming, 
In  the  graves  where  they  lie. 
That  they  rise  from  the  dead. 
Where  guidons  are  streaming. 
Where  trumpets  are  screaming, 
And  cannon's  flash  gleaming, 
And  sabre  points  beaming. 
The  soldiers  are  dreaming 
The  dreams  of  the  dead. 
All  their  effort  is  seeming. 
All  voiceless  their  screaming; 
In  uneasy  graves  dreaming 
Nightmares  of  the  Dead. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  245 

"Soldiers!  in  tattered  rags, 
Tom  as  your  shattered  flags, 
Under  your  battle  rags, 
Glorious  blood-spattered  flags, 
Sheltered  to-day. 

As  you  march  up  the  hill. 
Men  feel  their  eyelids  fill, — 
Women's  warm  pulses  thrill. 
As  the  ghosts  mute  and  still. 
Breathe  on  them  icy  chill; 
And  the  guns  thunder,  till 
All  fades  away. 
Till  the  century's  pageant 
Has  faded  away." 

"Boston,  Forefather's  Day,  December  22,  1865." 

In  these  days  of  peace,  when  it  is  my  privilege,  as  it  some- 
times has  been,  to  pass  with  uncovered  head,  through  that 
beautiful  Doric  Hall  in  our  noble  State  House  which  adorns 
Beacon  Hill,  and  view  those  battle-worn  banners  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts organizations  which  nobly  did  their  part  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  Union,  and  when  I  gaze  again,  as  in  those  dis- 
tant days,  upon  the  loved  and  cherished  colors  of  my  own 
regiment,  now  preser\^ed  and  guarded  there,  there  comes  rush- 
ing into  my  memory  an  outline  of  the  forms  and  features  of  the 
four  different  "chums,"  with  whom  I  was  the  most  intimately 
associated,  as  we  marched,  and  camped,  and  fought  during 
those  more  than  three  eventful  years.  Three  of  those  "chums " 
died  in  the  service.  Two  of  disease  and  exposure,  and  one  was 
shot  to  death  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  June  just  fifty  years  and 
two  weeks  ago  tonight,  while  we  were  carrying  a  despatch  from 
Sulphur  Springs  to  Warrenton,  Va.  One  only  of  the  four  was 
permitted  to  return  with  me  to  our  dear  New  England  homes. 
And  a  few  years  since,  in  a  western  state,  he  too  surrendered  to 
the  impact  of  the  hurrying  years.  I  recall  how,  when  the  hard 
day's  march  was  ended  and  we  had  orders  to  "Dismount!  and 
go  into  camp,"  one  would  take  the  canteens  of  both,  and  hurry 
off  across  the  fields  in  search  of  water,  sometimes  half  a  mile 
away,  while  the  other  would  gather  bits  of  wood  and  dead 


246  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

branches  of  trees  and  start  a  little  fire  and  begin  frying  the  salt 
pork,  and  when  the  water  came,  we  would  boil  the  coffee  in  our 
tin  cups,  feed  our  horses  from  the  oats  which  they  had  carried 
all  day  on  their  backs,  and  while  they  were  eating  their  supper, 
we  would  eat  ours,  and  then  we  would  spread  a  blanket  or  two 
on  the  ground,  lie  down  on  them,  cover  ourselves  with  other 
blankets,  and  with  our  saddles  for  pillows,  and  our  weapons  by 
our  sides,  sleep  through  the  night.  There  wasn't  much  variety 
in  our  food.  We  usually  had  salt  pork,  hard-tack,  coffee  for 
breakfast,  coffee,  salt  pork,  hard-tack  for  dinner,  and  hard-tack 
coffee,  and  salt  pork  for  supper.  Sometimes,  a  chicken  would 
fly  into  our  arms  or — be  secured  in  some  other  way — and  then 
we  would  have  a  feast. 

One  evening  we  had  boiled  a  chicken  in  our  tin  cups,  over  our 
little  camp-fire  for  an  hour  or  more,  until  it  was  about  half 
cooked,  intending  to  finish  the  cooking  while  we  were  feeding 
and  caring  for  our  horses  in  the  morning.  About  eleven  o'clock 
the  bugle  rang  out  the  call,  "Boots  and  saddles,"  and  the 
Orderly  Sergeant  came  running  along  among  the  sleeping  men, 
crying,  "Saddle  up !  mount  up !  everybody !  everything ! "  While 
sitting  on  our  horses,  waiting  for  the  order  to  "Fall  in!"  we 
devoured  that  half-cobked  fowl.  It  was  pretty  tough,  but  it 
was  tougher  to  lose  it.  After  some  minutes'  waiting,  the  order 
came,  "Dismount,  unsaddle,  and  go  into  camp."  We  did  not 
have  any  chicken  next  morning  for  breakfast. 

On  a  May  morning  in  1863,  my  company  was  on  the  skirmish 
line  charging  through  the  town  of  Culpeper,  Va.,  driving  the 
enemy  before  us  as  fast  as  their  horses  could  gallop,  and  occa- 
sionally getting  a  shot  at  some  of  the  fleeing  foe.  When  we 
were  about  through  the  village  the  bugle  sounded  the  order 
"Halt."  We  understood  that  the  order  meant  that  we  were 
getting  too  far  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  our  forces,  and  might 
have  to  wait  a  half  hour  or  so  for  them  to  come  up.  It  so 
happened  that  a  comrade  and  myself  were  in  the  main  street 
and  halted  directly  in  front  of  a  neat  cottage  by  the  side  of  the 
road.  While  we  were  keeping  a  close  lookout  for  the  enemy 
down  the  road,  we  were  soon  aware  that  someone  was  watching 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  247 

us  through  the  windows  from  the  inside  of  the  house,  and 
presently  the  door  slowly  opened  and  a  girl,  about  our  own  age, 
came  carefully  out.  We  had  scarcely  seen  a  girl  for  almost  two 
years,  and  oh!  she  looked  good  to  us  home-hungry  boys.  I 
suppose  her  investigation  through  the  window  had  convinced 
her  that  we  boys  did  not  look  very  dangerous,  especially  to  a 
girl.  We  soon  got  into  conversation,  which  quickly  drifted  to 
the  war  and  its  probable  results,  and  my  comrade  remarked, 
"That  it  seemed  a  pity  for  the  South  to  waste  so  many  lives 
and  so  much  effort  in  a  contest  in  which  they  were  almost  cer- 
tain to  be  defeated  in  the  end."  And  the  young  woman 
answered  in  words  that  I  have  always  remembered,  "Oh!" 
she  said,  "To  me  the  cause  of  the  South  looks  as  bright  as  the 
sun."  That  bright,  impulsive  girl,  filled  with  love  and  enthu- 
siasm and  zeal,  as  she  stood  there  that  May  morning,  has  been 
a  bright  spot  in  my  memory  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

For  the  two  dreadful  years  following,  she  was  compelled  to 
watch  the  bright  sun  of  her  hope  slowly  descending,  until  it 
finally  set  in  total  darkness  and  the  welcome  night  of  rest  from 
sectional  strife  brooded  lovingly  over  the  land.  And  oh !  I  hope 
she  has  lived  to  see  the  dawning  of  this  better  day,  when 
"Yank,"  and  "Johnny  Reb,"  shake  each  other's  hands  in  true 
brotherly  affection,  and  we  are  all  glad  that  we  are  now  members 
of  one  prosperous  and  united  country;  something  which  could 
never  have  been,  if  her  dream  had  come  true.  Fifty  years  ago 
last  night,  in  company  with  the  rest  of  my  regiment,  and  other 
regiments  of  our  brigade,  we  camped  on  the  field  where,  nearly 
a  year  previous,  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  had  been  fought. 
We  slept  on  the  ground,  with  our  horses  fastened  to  our  wrists, 
as  we  did  on  many  nights,  when  there  was  no  other  means  of 
securing  them.  Next  morning,  after  breakfast,  (with  the 
details  of  which  you  are  already  familiar)  we  moved  off  in  a 
northwesterly  direction  towards  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains. 

It  was  just  fifty  years  ago  this  very  day,  and  was  to  be  the 
most  trying  day  in  the  history  of  the  First  Massachusetts 
Cavalry,  during  our  more  than  three  years  of  war.  After 
marching   some  fifteen  or   twcntv  miles  we  encountered  the 


248  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

enemy  just  beyond  the  village  of  Aldie,  about  mid-afternoon. 
The  2nd  New  York  Cavalry  was  in  the  advance,  and  com- 
menced the  engagement.  General  Kilpatrick,  who  commanded 
our  brigade,  rode  in  front  of  our  regiment  and  said,  pointing  to 
some  hills  in  front,  "1st  Massachusetts  I  want  you  and  the 
2nd  New  York  to  gain  those  hills."  I  shall  not  attempt  to  give 
a  detailed  history  of  the  battle,  only  of  the  results.  We  went 
in  on  the  right  and  not  finding  the  enemy  very  strong  at  first 
drove  them  nearly  a  mile,  when  we  came  against  three  regi- 
ments of  Virginia  Cavalry  who  charged  us  in  earnest.  A  regi- 
ment sent  to  our  assistance  failed  to  arrive  and  we  were  scattered 
and  overwhelmed.  About  fifty  or  sixty  of  our  regiment,  all  that 
were  left  there,  sprang  from  our  horses,  and  with  our  carbines, 
partly  sheltered  by  a  stone  wall,  held  the  hills  we  had  been 
ordered  to  gain.  While  the  bullets  were  whistling  through  the 
air.  General  Kilpatrick  rode  clear  up  to  our  position  and  taking 
off  his  hat  said  to  us,  "Men  of  the  1st  Massachusetts,  you  have 
done  all  your  duty,  but  I  must  ask  you  to  do  something  more. 
If  you  will  hold  this  ground  fifteen  minutes  longer  I  will  have 
the  1st  Maine  here  to  relieve  you." 

After  such  an  address,  at  such  a  time,  soldiers,  worthy  of  the 
name,  would  hold  their  ground  if  they  knew  that  a  thousand 
bullets  would  whistle  through  their  worthless  bodies. 

At  such  supreme  moments,  the  cheek  may  blanch  and  the 
knees  tremble,  but  the  immortal  soul  of  man,  rising  on  the 
mountain  tops  of  inspiration,  commands  its  quaking  tenement 
to  do  its  will.  We  held  that  ground  until  relieved.  Near  the 
close  of  the  day,  when  all  of  the  scattered  ones  were  gathered 
in,  out  of  the  294  who  went  into  that  fight,  only  96  answered 
the  roll-call.  30  were  killed,  66  wounded,  and  102  were  prison- 
ers, on  their  way  to  the  prison  pens  of  the  South. 

At  this  time  the  entire  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  on  the 
march  northward,  towards  Gettysburg.  On  the  evening  of 
Jvily  1st  we  went  into  camp  about  twenty  or  thirty  miles  south- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  249 

easterly  of  that  now  famous  town.  We  had  hardly  stretched 
ourselves  upon  the  ground  to  sleep,  when  the  bugle  rang  out 
the  call,  "Boots  and  Saddles,"  and  we  mounted  our  horses  and 
marched  away,  until  about  one  or  two  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when  we  again  went  into  camp  in  an  open  field.  There  were  a 
lot  of  cobblestones  on  the  ground,  and  I  began  to  clear  them 
away  from  the  spot  where  my  chum  and  I  must  make  our  bed. 
We  were  all  tired,  and  he  said,  "Oh!  never  mind  about  those 
stones,  let's  get  to  sleep." 

He  had  been  married  in  the  early  summer  of  1862,  and  life 
with  him  was  one  glad  sweet  song  in  his  happy  home  in  Ash- 
field,  Mass.  But,  the  call  of  his  country  in  distress,  came 
sounding  across  the  states  from  the  far  south-land,  saying  to 
him,  "Come!  Come!  Come,!"  and,  he  heard  the  call,  and  tore 
himself  away  from  that  atmosphere  of  love  and  luxury,  and 
was  plunged  into  the  hard  discipline  and  privations  of  life  in 
camp,  and  the  awful  excitement  of  battle.  The  next  morning, 
July  2nd,  1863,  while  we  were  preparing  our  breakfast  of  "hard- 
tack," etc.,  I  thought  he  was  more  quiet  than  usual,  and  look- 
ing at  him  closely,  I  saw  there  w^ere  tears  on  his  cheeks  and 
asked  him  what  was  the  matter.  He  answered  that  he  had  been 
thinking  about  what  we  were  to  have  for  breakfast,  and  it 
made  him  homesick. 

I  did  not  know  it  then,  but  I  learned  later,  that  that  morning, 
while  we  were  preparing  our  frugal  meal  out  there  in  that 
barren  pasture,  there  was  a  baby  boy  in  his  home  at  Ashfield 
whom  he  had  never  seen,  and  would  not  see  for  more  than 
another  year.  Oh !  when  we  think  of  the  hardships  the  soldiers 
endured,  we  are  apt  to  consider  only  the  physical  side  of  their 
nature,  and  forget  that  they  have  emotions  and  affections. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  give  any  account  of  that  dreadful  war 
between  the  states,  and  have  mentioned  these  few  incidents  to 
illustrate  some  of  the  experiences  of  a  soldier's  life  in  active 
service. 


250  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Crowded  with  such  experiences  the  three  years  of  our  enlist- 
ment dragged  away,  the  day  of  our  deliverance  dawned  and 
to  our  surprise  found  some  of  us  upon  the  earth.  The  flow- 
ing waters  of  the  James  River,  winding  through  historic  Vir- 
ginia, where,  in  the  early  dawn  of  this  great  nation,  the 
untutored  Indian  maid  stayed  the  red  man's  hand,  bore  us  on 
its  swelling  bosom  east  and  northward  to  the  sea.  An  occa- 
sional friendly  Monitor,  with  never-dying  fires  and  guns  full 
loaded  for  an  ever-raiding  foe,  stood  sentinel  along  that  liquid 
highway,  and  with  sounding  whistle,  which  our  ship  answered, 
bade  us  Godspeed  on  our  homeward  way.  Our  souls  exulted  in 
this  new  freedom.  The  dear  "North,"  which  had  lived  in  our 
hearts,  fair  as  the  "Promised  Land,"  and  which  many  of  those 
whom  we  had  known  would  never  see  again  came  at  last  within 
our  vision.  On  a  beautiful  morning  in  November,  after  more 
than  three  years'  absence,  I  entered  my  homic.  My  mother, 
coming  down  from  upstairs  at  the  sound  of  the  opening  door, 
met  her  boy,  still  under  age,  standing  in  the  center  of  the 
kitchen  floor. 

After  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  the  town  found  that  they 
were  owing  quite  a  large  sum  of  money.  On  May  8th,  1865,  it 
was  "voted  to  raise  $23,000.00  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  town." 
On  May  31st,  "Voted  to  rescind  the  above  vote."  "Voted  to 
raise  $15,000.00  for  the  debts." 

The  total  valuation  of  the  town  in  1865,  was  $802,774.  The 
tax  rate  that  year  was  $33.50  on  $1,000.  The  total  amount  of 
the  tax  was  $27,927.60.  In  1868  the  tax  rate  was  $28  on 
$1,000  of  valuation.  And  so,  in  those  few  years,  the  "War 
Debt"  was  paid,  and  it  was  much  easier  to  do  it  then  than 
it  would  have  been  ten  or  fifteen  years  later,  owing  to  the 
depreciation  of  the  paper  money  in  circulation  at  that  time. 
A  few  years  ago,  there  were  some  towns  in  our  state  that  were 
still  paying  interest  on  their  "War  Debt,"  and  there  may  be 
some  now. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


251 


SPENCER  MAGAZINE  CARBINE  AND  SABRE  HILT. 

Made  by  C.  M.  Spencer,  Hartford,  Conn.  One  of  the  first  made.  It  was  carried 
through  the  Civil  War  in  Company  F.  1st  Mass.  Cavalry,  as  follows: 

1st  by  Lieut  Myron  C.  Pratt.  Killed  in  a  skirmish  at  Snickers  Ferry,  Va.,  Nov.  3,  1862. 

2nd  by  Lieut  Francis  O  Lombard  of  Springfield.     Killed  at  Mine  Run,  Va.,  Nov.  27, 1863. 

3d  by  Sergt  Bernard  Newell  of  Greenfield.     Killed  at  Newmarket,  Va.,  July  28,  1864. 

4th  by  Chauncey  E.  Peck,  who  brought  it  home.  The  permit  to  do  so  stated  that  the 
carbine  was  private  property  and  not  a  government  weapon. 

The  Sabre  Hilt  is  part  of  a  sabre  taken  from  a  Confederate  prisoner,  captured  in  a 
skirmish  near  Pocotaligo,  S.  C,  May,  1862.  When  we  got  into  camp,  the  blade  was  broken 
into  four  pieces  and  each  of  the  captors  had  a  piece.  The  hilt  was  my  share.  The  separate 
pieces  were  wrapped  in  newspapers  and  sent  home.  The  other  pieces  of  the  blade  are 
probably  in  Mass.  today. 

SOLDIERS  OF  WILBRAHAM  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR  1861-'65 
With  name  of  Regiment,  time  of  service,  number  of  engage- 
ments, and  if  killed  or  died  in  the  army. 


1st  Mass.  Cavalry 
Chauncey  E.  Peck 
Stephen  Lucas,  Jr. 
Henry  Rood 
William  R.  Eggleston 

1st  Mass.   Inf.\ntry 
Sergt.  Junius  Beebe 
Cyrus  N.  Hudson 

oTH  Mass.  Infantry 
Eugene  Cady 
Willis  F.  Chaffee 
Charles  A.  Taintor 
John  Truden 
Cyriel  E.  Scripter 

*8th  Mass.   Infantry, 

100  Days. 
Eugene  S.  Allen 
Harlan  P.  Rockwood 
Eugene  Pease 
Francis  Pease 
Henry  Wetherbee 
Robert  R.  Wright,  Jr. 


Enlisted 

Discharged 

Battles 

Remarks 

Sep.   24,  1861 
Sep.    12,  1861 
Aug.  25,  1862 
Aug.  20,  1862 

Jan.    15,  1862 
Aug.  — ,  1862 

Nov.    7,  1864 
Sep.    13,  1864 
Jan.    10,  1863 
June  29,  1865 

Dec.  25,  1863 

34 
1 
1 

23 

3 

Deserted 

Died 


Julv   12,  1864  After  100  davt 

July   12,  1864  Also  in  Navy 

July   12,  1864  

Julv   12,  1864  

July  12,  1864  

Julv   12.  1864  


♦"Service  was  Provost  Duty  at  the  City  of  Baltimore,  Marj-land." 


252 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Mustered 

Discharged 

Battles 

Remarks 

10th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Sergt.  George  F.  Holdridge 

June  21, 

1861? 

June  — , 

1864 

5 

Charles  E.  Buell 

Apr.  20, 

1861 

Apr.  17, 

1863 

4 

John  Fowle 

June  21, 

1861? 

Oscar  J.  Gilligan 

.  .  .  .? 

Mar.' 18 

1863' 

Reenlisted 

Henry  Gray 

■  ■  ■  ■  ^ 

Julv  22, 

1863 

Lyman  E.  Gray 

!? 

July  — 

1863 

Seneca  I.  Harris 

,,,/,_            ? 

4 

Horace  L.  Jones 

9 

Jan.     7, 

1863' 

Stephen  Millard 

■  ■  ■  ■  ^ 

John  Neff 

June  21, 

1861' 

May'28, 

1864' 

9 

Died 

George  Robinson 

? 

May    5, 

1864 

8 

Killed 

William  Smith 

•  ■  ■  ^ 

John  H.  Baity 

Nov.  13, 

ises' 

June    3, 

isei' 

Killed 

J.  M.  Templeman 

. . . .? 

18th  Mass.  Infantry 

Henry  D.  Gleason 

Aug.  — , 
Aug.  10, 

1861? 
1861 

15 

Sergt.  Gilbert  Rockwood,  Jr. 

perhaps  1864? 

Charles  Saunders 

9 

21st  Mass.  Infantry. 

Corp.  William  H.  Brackett 

Aug.  — , 

1861? 

June  — , 

1862 

Died 

Ransom  S.  Burr 

.  .  .  .? 

perhaps 

1864? 

27th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Lieut.  Joseph  W.  Holmes 

Sep.  — , 

1862 

Mav  15, 

1865 

Lieut.  Cyrus  W.  Goodale 

Oct.   — , 

1861? 

Oct.   30, 

1862 

Died 

Sergt.  George  W.  Hobart 

Oct.   23, 

1861 

Oct.    16, 

1864 

Died  in  prison 

Sergt.  Newton  E.  Kellogg 

Oct.      1, 

1861 

about 

1865 

Corp.  James  M.  King 

Sep.     6, 

1861 

July  20, 

1865 

Corp.  James  E.  Perry 

1861? 

Corp.  James  S.  Morgan 

Oct.     9, 

1861 

Sep.   27, 

1864' 

14 

Charles  S.  Bates 

Sep.   28, 

1861? 

Sep.   22, 

1862 

Died 

Robert  B.  W.  Bliss 

Sep.  28, 

1861 

Nov.  — , 

1864 

Died  in  prison 

Seth  W.  Buxton 

Oct.    13, 

1861 

about 

1864? 

Charles  H.  Burr 

1861? 

Apr.     8, 

1862 

Died 

Henry  Bushey 

Sept.28, 

1861 

June  — 

1864? 

Died 

William  H.  Chapin 

Sept.  28, 

1861 

about 

1865? 

Charles  S.  Clark 

Oct.     7, 

1861 

about 

1863? 

Wounded 

Albert  J.  Collins 

Oct.     5, 

1861 

Oct.    19, 

1864 

Died  in  prison  Ga. 

James  N.  Dorroch 

Oct.  — , 
Oct.     1, 

1861 
1861 

Benjamin  C.  Davis 

about 

i865? 

John  K.  Fuller 

Oct.     1, 

1861 

about 

1865? 

Prisoner 

George  E.  Fuller 

Oct.     1, 

1861 

Sept.  27 

1864 

Also  in  U.  S.  service. 

Charles  R.  Fay 

Nov.    1, 

1861 

Nov.    1, 

1864 

Lucius  W.  Gleason 

Oct.     3, 

1861 

Sept.  27, 

1864 

8 

Charles  J.  Glover 

Oct.     1, 

1861 

Aug.  24, 

1865 

Prisoner  about  1  yr. 

Damon  N.  Haskell 

Oct.     9, 

1861 

Sept.  27, 

1S64 

10 

Almond  Lard 

Oct.  — , 

1861? 

Oct.     6, 

1864 

Died  in  prison,  Ga. 

Albert  C.  Lucas 

Sept.28, 

1861 

about 

1865? 

Dennis  McGowan 

Oct.     4, 

1861 

about 

1865? 

James  Rice 

Oct.     3, 

1861 

Oct.   24, 

1862 

Died 

Harrison  Rowe 

Sept.28, 

1861 

Mar.    8, 

1865 

Killed 

Joseph  Twinkler 

Sept.28, 

1861 

Oct.     9, 

1864 

Died 

William  P.  Truden 

July  — , 

1862 

about 

1865? 

Albert  S.  Vaughn 

Aug.    3, 

1862 

Oct.   — , 

1862 

Died 

Charles  H.  Arnold 

Dec.  12, 

1863 

June    5, 

1865? 

1 

Also  in  46th  Regt. 

Elmer  Jewett 

Jan.     4, 

1864 

Sept.  26, 

1864 

Died  in  prison. 

Nelson  Sheldon 

Dec.  12, 

1863 

June  26, 

1865 

Elias  S.  Keyes 

Sept.    1, 

1864 

1865? 

1 

Prisoner 

Henry  Gorman 

Jan.   26, 

1865 

1865? 

31st  Mass.   Infantry. 

Samuel  S.  Alden 

1861? 

George  W.  Bennett 

Nov.    8, 

1861 

Died  at  N.  0.  1862 

Russell  D.  Crocker 

Nov.    8, 

1861 

Pelatiah  Glover 

1861? 

1862 

Disability 

George  Munsell 

1861? 

1864? 

2 

Wounded 

John  A.  Pea.se 

Nov.    8, 

1861 

1865? 

2 

John  S.  O'Riely 

Charles  Ring 

1861? 

1862' 

Disability 

Sextus  Shields 

1861? 

June  17, 

1865 

The  History  of  Wilbraham 


253 


The  31st  Regt.  was  changed  from  Infantry  to  Cavalry  in  the 
winter  of  1863-4. 


37th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Capt.  Algernon  S.  Flagg 
Lieut.  Jesse  Prickett 
Sergt.  Watson  W.  Bridge 
Sergt.  John  H.  Brines 
Sergt.  Timothy  D.  Smith 
Sergt.  Francis  Brooks 
Sergt.  Dwight  H.  Parsons 
Walter  G.  Brewer 
Horatio  R.  Calkins 
Cyrus  W.  Cross 
Sumner  P.  Fuller 
George  Gray 
John  F.  Keyes 
Daniel  Knowlton 
Francis  P.  Lemon 
Benjamin  F.  McCray 
Enos  W.  Munsell 
Addison  H.  Mosley 
Thomas  J.  Mills 
Jacob  Neff 
Erasmus  B.  Pease 
Joseph  A.  Parker 
George  Pease 
John  C.  Rockwood 
William  A.  Rice 
William  Shaw 
John  Speight 
James  K.  Stacy 
Albert  O.  Stratton 
Edward  Ufford 
Albert  Vaughn 
Albert  B.  McGregory 
Elbridge  G.  Vinaca 
Spencer  H.  Wood 

46th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Capt.  William  G.  Leonard 
Sergt.  William  R.  Sessions 
Sergt.  Mortimer  Pease 
Corp.  Charles  E.  Knight 
Corp.  David  S.  Roberts 
Corp.  Eugene  E.  Porter 
Oscar  F.  Benedict 
John  D.  Burnap 
Lorenzo  Bliss 
Samuel  Chapin 
Edward  W.  Hitchcock 
Alburtus  Langdon 
Oliver  H.  Langdon 
Samuel  F.  Merrick 
Lorenzo  E.  Munsell 
Jefferson  Rowe 
Alonzo  L.  Scripter 
George  W.  Tupper 
Howard  C.  West 


Mustered 


Sept. 

Sept. 

July 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

i  Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 


1862 
1S61 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1864 
1862 
1862 

1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 


Sept.    2    1862 


Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
•  Sept.  25, 
I  Sept.  25, 
,  Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
I  Sent.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 
Sept.  25, 


1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 


Discharged 

Battles 
15? 

1865? 

1865? 

15? 

1865? 

Julv  2,  1865 

8 

Apr.  6,  1865 

July  2,  1865 

12? 

Julv  2,  1865 

Julv  2,  1865 

Aug.  10,  1864 

8? 

Oct.  18,  1864 

1864? 

5? 

Apr.  — ,  1864 

July  30,  1864 

1 

1862 

1862 

1864? 

Aug.  7,  1865 

2 

June  3,  1864 

8? 

1865? 

Mar.  29,  1864 

1865? 

12? 

1 

1864? 

July  2,  1865 

July  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Feb.  16,  1863 

July  28,  1863 

July  28,  1863 

July  28  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1865 

Julv  28,  1865 

July  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Julv  28,  1863 

Julv  14,  1865 

Mar.  19,  1863 

July  28,  1863 

Remarks 


Capt.  in  54th  Mass. 
Killed 

Wounded 

General's  orderly 
Died  in  prison 
Wounded 
Wounded 

Transferred  to  Nav\- 
Killed 

Disabilitv 

Died 

Trans.  Invalid  Corps 

Killed 

Died 

Wounded 
Wounded 
Wounded 

Transferred  to  Navj' 


Trans.  Invalid  Corps 
Trans.  Invalid  Corps 


Prisoner 
Prisoner 

Disability 
Quartermaster  dept. 


Reenlisted 
Reenlisted 


Reenlisted 
Disability 


The  following  men  served  about  nine  months  in  the  46th 
Infantry  and  then  reenlisted  in  the  2nd  Massachusetts  Heavy 


254 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Artillery.     The  time  of  their  first  enlistment  and  final   dis- 
charge is  given. 


Enlisted 

Discharged 

Battles! 

Remarks 

46th  Mass.  Infantry  and 

2nd  Heavy  Artillery. 

Sergt.  Calvin  G.  Robbins 

Sept.  25,  1802 

Julv  14,  1865 

Corp.  Adin  Alden 

Sept.  25,  1862 

Julv  14,  1805 

Irving  W.  Burr 

Sept.  25,  1802 

Aug.  — ,  1804 

Died 

Marcus  H.  Chaffee 

Sept.  25,  1862 

Julv  14,  1865 

Nelson  D.  Crocker 

Sept.  25,  1862 

Julv   16,  1865 

Died  in  hospital 

Andrew  S.  Pember 

Sept.  25,  1802 

July  14,  1805 

Walter  S.  Pease 

Sept.  25,  1802 

July  14,  1805 

2nd  Mass.  Heavy 

Artillery 

.\lbert  Converse 

July     7,  1863 

William  P.  Calkins 

July   14,  1863 

Dennis  Duffee 

July   14,  1863 

Charles  IX  Jones 
Merrick  Eamphere 

Julv  23,  1803 

Jan.   — ,  1804 

July    13,  1803 

Deserted 

John  Patten 

July   14,  1863 

1 

Solyman  Walker 

July   13,  1863 

James  A.  Rice 

July  — ,  1863 

57th   Mass.   Infantry. 

George  M.  Alden 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Cyrus  Ramsdell 

Jan.   — ,  1864 

Daniel  J.  Simonds 

Dec.     8,  1863 

May  14,  1864 

Other  Regiments. 

Capt.  Watson  W.  Bridge 

Sept.    2,  1862 

Lieut.  Amos  Ramsdell 

Sergt.  Luther  Wing 

Feb.   16,  1864 

Richard  Armstrong 

Prisoner 

Orange  S.  Firmin 

Peter  Higgins 

Died 

Chester  Loomis 

Horace  L.  Mixter 

♦ 

Charles  F.  Tilden 

Sept.  16,  1861 

Prisoner 

William  C.  Williams 

2 

Robert  Darrah 

Edgar  A.  Stebbins 

Daniel  J.  Simonds 

Dec.     8,  1863 

May  14,  1864 

George  M.  Alden 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Franklin  G.  Patten 

Jan.      5,  1864 

John  H.  Williams 

Feb.  20,  1864 

George  J.  Jones 

Charles  D.  Jones 

Thomas  Smith 

1863? 

Wounded 

Horace  B.  Wood 

1863? 

Emerson  G.  Brewer 

1862? 

Died  Oct.  24,  1864. 

.A.lonzo  B.  Noble 

Lysander  Howard 

George  Leonard 

William  F.  Darroch? 

Seth  Allen 

Died 

Total  number  of  Wilbra- 

ham men  in  the  army 

178 

Others  as  substitutes,  or 

hired  to  fill  quota 

21 

199 

In  U.  S.   Navy. 

Franklin  Cobb 

John  Gibbons 

Nov.  23,  1862 

And  27  others  hired  to  fill 

the  town's  quota.   Total 

29 

Total  number  of  men 



furnished 

228 

The  History  of  Wilbraham  255 

Of  this  number,  about  15  were  counted  on  the  quota  of 
other  towns. 

In  July,  1863,  fifty-six  men  were  drafted  to  fill  the  town's 
quota,  and  on  May  18th,  1864,  and  on  five  other  dates  twenty- 
nine  others  were  drafted;  making  eighty-five  in  all.  Of  this 
number,  five  went  into  the  army,  four  sent  substitutes,  twentv 
paid  what  was  called  "Commutation"  of  $300  each,  thirteen 
were  exempt,  being  aliens,  thirty-nine  were  exempted  for 
disability,  one  "Run  away,"  of  one  it  is  recorded,  "No  such 
man  in  town,"  of  one  other,  there  is  no  record;  and  of  the  last 
name  on  the  list  it  is  recorded  "Not  called  for,"  indicating  the 
dawn  of  that  delightful  day  when  the  awful  struggle  between 
the  states  of  this  great  nation  would  cease,  and  the  Angel  of 
Peace  would  again  dwell  in  our  land. 

There  is  a  printed  "List  of  persons  enrolled  in  the  Town  of 
Wilbraham  liable  to  Military  Duty.  Class  First.  Comprising 
all  persons  subject  to  do  Military  duty  between  the  ages  of 
Twenty  and  Thirty-five  years,  and  all  unmarried  persons  sub- 
ject to  do  Military  duty  above  the  age  of  Thirty-five  years  and 
under  the  age  of  Forty-five."  Then  follows  the  names  of  183 
persons.  But  six  of  them  are  endorsed  as  "already  in  the 
anny,"  leaving  a  total  of  177.  "Class  Second.  Comprising 
all  Married  persons  subject  to  do  Military  duty  above  the  age 
of  Thirty-five."  Then  follows  a  list  of  the  names  of  98  persons, 
but  one  is  endorsed,  "already  in  the  army,"  and  one  as  "over 
age,"  leaving  96,  which  with  the  177  of  the  First  Class,  makes 
273  in  both  classes.  This  "List"  is  signed  by  "H.  M.  More- 
house, Captain  and  Provost  Marshal  10th  District  Mass. 
Nov.  25th  1863." 

There  is  also  a  printed  list,  not  dated,  called,  "New  Enroll- 
ment," as  follows:  "Names  of  Men  Enrolled  in  the  Town  of 
Wilbraham"  which  contains  the  names  of  140,  subject  to 
military  duty. 

"The  Rebellion  Records"  in  the  town  clerk's  office  are 
very  incomplete  in  many  details.  They  show  that  six  Wilbra- 
ham men  were  killed  in  battle,  and  that  twenty- three  others 
died  in  the  service.     Probably  there  were  more.     The  records 


256  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

give  a  list  of  the  battles  in  which  a  few  of  the  men  took  part. 
When  the  soldiers  returned  from  the  war,  the  town  clerk 
asked  some,  perhaps  all  of  them,  to  furnish  him  such  a  list. 
He  asked  me,  and  I  did  so,  and  they  are  recorded.  But 
probably  many  of  the  others  did  not,  and  so  there  is  no  record 
of  them.  But  I  think  that  most  of  the  men  in  the  earlier, 
three-years  regiments,  up  to  and  including  the  37th,  were  in 
many  of  the  great  battles  of  the  war. 

The  following  song  illustrates  the  spirit  of  the  time. 
TO  COMPANY  E 
10th  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers 
By  Mary  J.  Melvin 
Air — "Wait  for  the  Wagon." 

Now,  friends,  if  you  will  listen, 

A  few  words  I'll  relate. 
Concerning  our  brave  Volunteers 

From  Massachusetts  state. 
The  subject  I  shall  dwell  upon 

As  quickly  you  will  see, 
Is  all  about  the  Orchard  Boys, 
Who  belong  to  Company  E. 

Chorus — Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton, 
Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton, 
Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton 
And  the  boys  of  Company  E. 

Their  young  and  noble  Captain 

Frederick  Barton  is  by  name, 
And  in  the  town  of  Springfield 

He  drilled  his  brave  young  men ; 
And  there  he  made  them  take  the  oath 

That  they  should  all  agree. 
To  defend  our  glorious  Union 

Brave  boys  of  Company  E. 

Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton,  etc. 

On  Hampden  Park  he  kept  them 

Sixteen  weeks  or  more, 
And  now  they  are  in  Washington 

Their  absence  we  deplore; 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  257 

But  still  we  will  not  murmur 

For  our  Flag  it  must  float  Free! 
And  this  they  will  accomplish, 

The  brave  boys  of  Company  E. 

Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton,  etc. 

Although  they  call  them  "Barton's  Roughs," 

Still,  their  Captain  likes  them  well, 
And  tells  them  when  they  meet  the  rebels, 

"Boys,  do  your  duty  well!" 
And  when  we  find  old  Beauregard 

We'll  pin  him  to  a  tree. 
And  hang  Jeff.  Davis  on  a  limb 

Us  boys  of  Company  E. 

Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton,  etc. 

And  when  we  get  the  Union, 

We'll  shout  our  loud  Hurrahs, 
To  think  we  have  been  fighting 

For  the  glorious  Stripes  and  Stars ; 
And  still  we'll  be  united. 

And  firmly  all  agree. 
To  return  to  Indian  Orchard, 

The  boys  of  Company  E. 

Hurrah  for  Captain  Barton,  etc. 
Indian  Orchard,  Oct.  21,  1861. 

When  the  war  was  ended,  and  the  soldiers  who  had  survived 
the  terrible  conflicts  had  returned  to  their  homes,  to  resume  the 
occupations  which  the  war  had  interrupted,  Dr.  Stebbins 
Foskit,  a  physician  who  had  lived  his  life  among  us  in  the  noble 
effort  to  relieve  the  ills  of  men,  conceived  the  idea  of  erecting  a 
monument  which  should  preserve  their  memory  to  future 
generations.  He  was  not  permitted  to  see  his  desire  erected  in 
enduring  granite.  But  his  widow,  Mrs.  Lucia  S.  Foskit,  who  is 
still  with  us,  in  full  sympathy  with  his  plan,  carried  the  idea 
to  a  successful  and  appropriate  consummation.  The  monu- 
ment was  dedicated  on  July  4th,  1894,  by  E.  K.  Wilcox  Post 
G.  A.  R.  of  Springfield,  W.  P.  Derby  Commander,  and  the 
address  Was  made  by  our  honored  Pastor,  Rev.  Martin  S. 
Howard ;  after  which  a  free  collation  was  served  to  about  three 
hundred  persons  in  the  Congregational  Church  Chapel. 


258 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT 


The  following  is  the  inscription : 

TO 

THE  MEN  OF  WILBRAHAM 

WHO  SERVED  THEIR  COUNTRY 

IN  THE  WAR  WHICH  PRESERVED 

THE  UNION  AND  DESTROYED 

SLAVERY.     THIS  MONUMENT  IS 

ERECTED  TO  PERPETUATE  THE 

MEMORY  OF  THEIR  PATRIOTIC 

SERVICE. 

1861 1865 

ERECTED  BY  LUCIA  STEBBINS 

IN  THE  NAME  OF  HER  HUSBAND 

S.  FOSKIT  M.  D. 

1894 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  259 

The  names  of  all  the  soldiers,  who  were  residents  of  Wilbra- 
ham, so  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  are  engraved  on  the  three 
panels. 

The  monument,  above  the  foundation,  cost  $2500. .  The 
expense  of  putting  in  the  foundation  was  paid  by  the  veteran 
soldiers. 

The  "Crane  Park,"  where  the  monument  stands,  was  the 
birthplace  and  early  home  of  Lucinda  Brewer,  who  married 
Zenas  Crane,  the  original  paper  manufacturer  of  Dalton,  in 
1809.  She  was  the  grandmother  of  our  honored  guest,  Ex- 
Governor,  and  now  Ex-Senator,  W.  Murray  Crane,  who  has 
graced  this  occasion  with  his  presence,  and  we  appreciate  his 
kindness.  The  park  where  the  monument  stands  is  practically 
the  exact  center  of  the  town.  Within  recent  years,  I  have 
heard  the  question  asked,  "Who  wrote  the  inscription  on  the 
monument?"  As  the  matter  may  come  up  again,  I  will  say, 
Mrs.  Foskit  invited  several  persons  to  present  an  inscription 
for  it,  and  she  selected  the  one  that  I  prepared.  It  is  not  copied 
from,  but  is  something  like  the  one  on  the  Soldiers'  Monument 
on  Boston  Common. 


^  1 

o 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  261 

THE  GREAT  WASHOUT  ON  THE 

BOSTON  AND  ALBANY  RAILROAD 

IN  OCTOBER,  1869 

The  following  account  is  copied  from  the  Springfield  Repub- 
lican of  October  fifth,  1869. 

"The  great  storm  of  the  3rd  and  4th  of  October,  1869,  will 
long  be  memorable.  Beginning  before  daylight  on  Sunday,  it 
rained  in  torrents  through  that  day  and  night,  and  not  till  the 
middle  of  Monday  afternoon  was  there  any  cessation.  During 
much  of  this  time  the  water  fell,  as  it  were  in  sheets,  instead  of 
drops,  and  a  more  powerful  storm  would  seem  almost  impossible. 
The  weather  records  of  the  last  quarter  century  have  been 
searched  in  vain  to  find  its  parallel. 

"The  rain  gauge  of  the  United  States  armory  in  this  city, 
showed  that  from  2  o'clock,  Sunday  morning  till  7  o'clock, 
Monday  morning,  a  period  of  twenty-nine  hours,  four  inches  of 
water  fell,  or  an  amount  equal  to  the  average  monthly  rain  fall. 
In  the  tremendous  rain  of  Monday  morning  (from  7  a.m.  till 
1  p.m.)  3.34  inches  more  of  water  came,  and  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  more  (.71)  before  the  sun  broke  through  the 
clouds,  shortly  after  3  o'clock.  Thus  the  total  fall  of  water 
during  the  storm,  from  Sunday  morning  till  Monday  afternoon, 
reached  the  extraordinary  and  wholly  unprecedented  amount 
of  8.05  inches.  Mr.  Weatherhead  has  kept  a  record  since  June 
1,  1847,  and  the  greatest  quantity  of  rain  in  any  storm,  during 
that  time,  was  June  12  and  13,  1858  when  4.35  inches  fell  and 
the  militia  encamped  on  the  island  opposite  the  city  was 
drowned  out.  The  average  quantity  per  month  for  the  past 
22  years  has  been  about  3.75  inches;  thus  in  37  hours  we 
received  the  amount  due  for  two  months. 

"We  had  no  trains  at  all  from  Albany  yesterday,  but  trains 
ran  as  usual  between  this  city  and  Boston  until  noon.  The 
afternoon  express  train  for  the  east  left  at  a  quarter  before  2, 
expecting  to  make  its  customary  trip  to  Boston,  but  was  stopped 
at  Wilbraham,  where  information  was  given  of  a  bad  break  in 
the  road,  half  a  mile  beyond  the  depot.  A  brook,  which  is 
usually  insignificant,  was  swollen  by  the  rain  to  a  mighty  flood, 
and  throwing  off  the  slight  restraint  imposed  upon  it  by  the 
culvert  through  which  it  usually  flows,  tore  up  the  track  for  a 
distance  of  200  feet,  and  gullied  out  a  chasm  in  some  places  50 
feet  deep.  Conductor  Whitney  accordingly  ran  his  train  back 
to  this  city.    Last  evening  a  construction  train  with  several  big 


26'2  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

head  lights  for  illumination  was  run  out  to  the  break,  to  see 
what  could  be  done  to  fill  up  the  chasm.  There  are  reports  of 
other  serious  damage  to  the  railroad  near  Palmer.  No  through 
trains  were  started  from  Boston,  vSpringfield  or  Albany 
after  the  extent  of  the  damage,  east  or  west  had  been  ascer- 
tained." 

Further  account  given  by  the  Republican  Friday  October  8th. 

"The  first  train  for  Boston  from  this  city,  since  Monday 
morning,  left  at  2.30,  yesterday  afternoon,  and  was  composed  of 
thirteen  cars,  conveying  probably  not  less  than  700  passengers. 
At  North  Wilbraham,  omnibuses  were  in  readiness  to  transfer 
the  passengers  overland  beyond  the  great  break,  carrying  them 
around  about  a  mile  to  Butler's  crossing.  By  far  the  larger  part 
of  the  passengers,  however,  preferred  to  walk,  and  also  to  take 
the  worst  and  nearest  way,  directly  up  the  track  to  the  great 
chasm,  instead  of  following  the  highway. 

The  crossing  of  the  brook,  down  the  steep,  shifting  side  of  the 
embankment  across  the  smaller  brook  at  the  bottom,  which  is 
almost  a  river,  on  single  planks  and  sticks  of  timber  and  up  the 
equally  steep  eastern  bank,  was  successfully  accomplished,  and 
with  skill  worthy  Alpine  travelers. 

"Men,  women,  children,  babies  and  birds,  besides  innu- 
merable bags  and  bundles,  were  carried  safely  over,  and  soon 
the  whole  party  of  hundreds  were  enjoying  and  diverting  them- 
selves on  the  green  fields  around  Butler's.  The  first  hour  or 
two  passed  very  pleasantly  in  grand  picnic  fashion,  but  after 
sunset  the  chilly  night  air  made  fires  indispensable  and  they 
were  not  much  sooner  needed  than  provided.  The  farmer's 
fences  were  pressed  into  the  service  for  the  public  good,  and 
soon  three  mighty  pyres  were  blazing,  illuminating  the  heavens 
and  comforting  and  cheering  the  weary  passengers. 

"For  all  this  while  they  were  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the 
train  which  left  Boston  at  3  p.m.,  and  which  was  to  transport 
them  eastward  on  its  return,  and  when  that  long  train  of  four- 
teen cars  and  two  engines  did  drive  up,  at  8  o'clock  p.m., 
perhaps  it  was'nt  received  with  cheers  on  cheers ! 

"There  never  was  a  more  joyous  meeting  of  strangers; 
the  westward  bound  passengers  were  quickly  loaded  into  the 
omnibuses;  the  eastward  gladly  entered  the  cars;  and  the 
parting  was  no  less  pleasurable  than  the  meeting. 

"The  work  of  transferring  the  baggage  to  the  train  for  this 
city  occupied  over  three  hours,  and  it  was  just  12,  midnight, 


264  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

when  the  first  train  from  Boston  since  Monday  noon  arrived 
in  Springfield. 

"The  work  on  the  trestle  bridge,  spanning  the  departed 
embankment,  is  progressing  very  rapidly,  and  trains  will 
probably  cross  it,  today.  Connection  was  made,  last  night,  and 
foot  passengers  came  over  safely.  The  route  thence  to  Palmer 
is  only  passable,  and  the  north  track  is  only  used.  Beyond 
Palmer  to  West  Brookfield  both  tracks  are  made  to  do  service 
alternately,  neither  being  entirely  sound.  The  seven  freight 
trains  which  were  stopped  by  the  flood,  between  Warren  and 
Brimfield,  all  arrived  at  Palmer,  Wednesday  afternoon,  and 
are  now  waiting  a  chance  to  come  further  west." 

Additional  Reports  October  9th. 

"The  reconstructionists  who  have  been  building  the  trestle 
work  at  the  Wilbraham  break,  completed  the  structure,  yester- 
day afternoon  at  half-past-12  o'clock,  sufficiently  to  permit  the 
passage  of  trains.  An  engine  and  platform  were  run  across  to 
test  it,  just  as  Conductor  Whitney's  train  hove  in  sight  from 
Boston.  The  train  passed  over  safely,  and  arrived  in  this  city 
only  about  an  hour  later.  Trains  are  now  running  both  east 
and  west,  with  few  if  any  delays." 

IN  REGARD  TO  THE  BUSINESS  OF  THE  TOWN 

The  following  items  froin  a  History  of  Massachusetts  pub- 
lished in  1839,  may  be  of  interest: 

"  Population  in  1837,  1,802. 

"There  were  457  Saxony,  1054  merino,  and  781  other  kinds  of 

sheep.    Value  of  wool  produced  $3,668.62. 
"Capital  invested  $35,460. 

"Value  of  boots  and  shoes  manufactured  $8,498.75. 
"Value  of  straw  bonnets  and  straw  braid  manufactured  $2,000. 
"Palm  leaf  hats  manufactured  7,145  valued  at  $1,000.30. 
"4  churches  in  the  town,  2  Congregational  and  2  Methodist. 
"In  1837  the  Academy  had  upwards  of  300  pupils,  190  males, 

114  females." 

Part  of  the  following  items  arc  copied  from  the  Stcbbins 
History : 

"The  first  woolen  mill  in  Wilbraham  was  built  by  Sumner 
Sessions,  in  the  South  Parish,  on  a  mill-stream  called  Scan  tic 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  265 

in  1845.  It  was  rented  and  operations  commenced  by  Le\'i 
Bradford  and  Eleazer  Scripter,  in  April  1846.  with  one  set  of 
machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  satinet.  In  1847  there  was  a 
change  in  the  firm,  more  machinery  added,  and  increase  of 
power  obtained  by  the  purchase  of  the  carding  machine  privilege 
on  the  same  stream.  The  manufacture  of  satinets,  tweeds, 
cassimeres,  and  doeskins  was  carried  on  by  this  company  until 
1856  when  a  new  company  was  formed  with  a  capital  of  twenty 
thousand  dollars  called  'The  South  Wilbraham  Manufacturing 
Company.'  E.  Scripter  acted  as  agent  and  treasurer  until  1860 
when  William  V.  Sessions  was  appointed  in  his  place.  In  1862 
a  large  addition  to  the  mill  was  built  and  another  set  of  ma- 
chinery added. 

"Below  the  'Sotith  Wilbraham  Co.'  the  "Ravine  Manufac- 
turing Co."  started  in  1856  making  two  thousand  yards  of 
doeskins  a  week.  Two  factories  on  Eleven  Mile  Brook  made 
low  grade  satinet  about  three  thousand  yards  a  week." 

All  of  these  mills  are  now  out  of  commission,  and  most  of  the 
buildings  have  been  destroyed.  About  1790,  an  attempt  was 
made  by  Capt.  Joel  Pease  to  erect  a  mill  about  80  or  100  rods 
north  of  the  Tinkham  road,  and  about  the  same  distance  west 
of  West  Street,  on  Pole  Bridge  Brook,  on  the  farm  formerly 
owned  by  Roswell  Phelps,  and  now  owned  by  Mrs.  O'Leary, 
and  a  dam  was  constructed;  but  the  country  was  so  flat  that 
the  overflow  of  the  pond  was  very  objectionable  and  the  project 
was  given  up.  In  1764  the  town  gave  Caleb  Stebbins  of  Wil- 
braham and  Joseph  Miller  of  Ludlow  a  deed  of  four  acres  of  the 
Ministry  lot  on  Eleven  Mile  Brook  as  a  site  for  a  grist  mill. 
And  in  1803,  a  carding  machine  was  placed  in  a  building  erected 
by  Jonathan  Kilborn,  on  the  same  brook,  near  Stebbins  Mill. 

The  large  amount  of  wood  burned  by  the  early  inhabitants 
gave  an  overplus  of  ashes,  and  William  King  manufactured 
potashes  in  the  south  village  near  the  old  meeting  house,  and 
Paul  Langdon  by  the  Potash  Hill.  I  have  learned  from  old 
deeds,  that  there  was  a  potash  works  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road  leading  up  the  mountain  from  the  stone  church,  probably 
near  the  small  brook  which  crosses  the  road.  Thomas  and 
Henry  Howard  erected  a  tannery  at  an  early  day  on  the  north 
side  of  Springfield  Street,  b\-  the  brook  near  the  place  where 


266  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Calvin  Brewer  lived  for  many  years,  now  owned  by  George  N. 
Chase.  Abraham  Avery  had  one,  probably  near  where  Mr. 
O.  L.  Millard  now  lives. 

THE  COLLINS  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY,  at 
North  Wilbraham,  was  incorporated  in  1872  as  the  Collins 
Paper  Company.  The  name  was  changed  in  1876,  and  the 
capital  increased  to  $300,000.  The  company,  with  some 
changes  in  stock  ownership  and  business  control,  has  since  been 
in  active  operation,  and  its  works  comprise  one  of  the  principal 
industrial  enterprises  of  eastern  Hampden  County.  The  plant 
now  forms  a  part  of  the  Whiting  system  of  paper  interests,  and 
has  been  the  largest  factor  in  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  northern  part  of  our  town. 

The  grain  and  milling  business  now  conducted  by  the 
CUTLER  COMPANY,  also  at  North  Wilbraham,  was  estab- 
ished  at  Ashland,  Mass.,  in  1844,  by  Henry  Cutler,  where  it 
utilized  the  water  power  of  the  Sudbury  River,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  concerns  in  New  England  to  grind  western  com.  In 
1877  the  city  of  Boston  took  that  river  as  part  of  its  water 
supply,  and  the  business  was  transferred  to  our  town,  Mr. 
Cutler  being  attracted  here  by  favorable  railroad  facilities  and 
available  water  power. 

The  business  has  grown  from  year  to  year,  necessitating  the 
building  of  several  storehouses  and  the  addition  of  new  equip- 
ment. The  average  daily  shipments  being  about  eight  carloads 
of  grain  and  feed.  The  making  of  milling  machinery  is  also 
carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  from  the  North  Wil- 
braham office  of  The  Cutler  Company  are  managed  several 
retail  grain  stores  in  other  places  in  New  England.  Like  the 
Collins  Paper  Company,  the  Cutler  Company  has  contributed 
much  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  our  town. 

THE  LUDLOW  MANUFACTURING  ASSOCIATES,  lo- 
cated in  Ludlow  near  the  northwest  comer  of  our  town,  have 
contributed  largely  to  the  growth  of  the  town  in  that  section. 
A  manufactory  was  first  established  there  about  1815,  and  on 
December  31,  1821,  was  organized  as  the  Springfield  Manufac- 
turing Company,  and  a  stone  building  was  erected  at  the  north 


268  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

end  of  the  bridge,  and  a  little  west  of  the  road,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Chicopee  River.  The  bridge  was  formerly  called 
"Put's  Bridge,"  in  honor  of  the  builder,  Eli  Putnain.  A  grist 
mill  was  conducted  in  the  northeast  comer  of  the  stone  mill, 
and  a  sawmill  was  operated  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  in 
our  town,  for  a  good  many  years.  I  have  taken  grain  to  the 
grist  mill  and  logs  to  the  sawmill.  In  1848  the  company  failed, 
and  the  business  was  conducted  by  Wood  &  Merritt  until 
1856,  when  the  business  was  merged  into  the  first  Ludlow 
Manufacturing  Company.  In  developing  the  village  of  Lud- 
low, the  directors  found  that  they  were  acting  beyond  the 
powers  granted  them  as  a  manufacturing  corporation.  Which 
was  one  of  the  reasons  for  changing  the  form  of  organization  to 
that  of  The  Ludlow  Manufacturing  Associates. 

In  December,  1891,  the  company  purchased  a  mill  site  just 
above  "Red  Bridge,"  and  in  1900  commenced  work  on  the 
present  dam  at  that  point.  The  power  is  conducted  to  the 
mills  by  electrical  transmission.  In  1905,  a  bridge  was  built 
across  the  Chicopee  River  near  "  Moran's  Crossing,"  and 
tracks  were  laid  so  as  to  give  the  company  a  direct  freight  con- 
nection with  the  main  line  of  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad. 
In  recent  years,  a  large  number  of  dwelling  houses  have  been 
erected  in  that  part  of  our  town,  by  the  company,  which,  with 
the  plant  at  Red  Bridge,  have  added  much  to  our  valuation, 
as  well  as  to  our  population. 

In  the  year  1900,  the  old  covered  structure  which  had  done 
duty  at  "Red  Bridge"  since  about  1838,  was  removed,  and  the 
present  iron  bridge  was  erected. 

OTHER  INDUSTRIES 

The  raising  of  tobacco  was  considerable  of  an  industry  from 
about  1850,  to  about  1880,  especially  along  West  Street.  And 
many  of  the  farmers  set  out  from  one  to  five  acres,  with  quite 
satisfactory  results. 

The  crop  was  usually  sold  to  dealers  in  Hartford  and  vicinity, 
who  would  come  and  inspect  the  crojjs  at,  or  near  stripping 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  269 

time,  in  the  late  autumn,  and  arrange  with  each  grower  for  the 
purchase  of  his  crop,  to  be  delivered  at  the  place  of  business  of 
the  dealer.  And,  at  that  time  of  the  year,  it  was  no  uncommon 
sight  to  see  two  or  three  two-horse  loads  of  the  product,  wend- 
ing their  way  in  company,  towards  the  place  of  delivery. 

I  remember  to  have  once  gone  in  such  a  train,  either  to 
Warehouse  Point  or  Windsor  Locks.  The  general  color  of  the 
tobacco  grown  here  was  quite  dark,  and  in  time  the  demand 
was  for  a  lighter  shade,  for  wrappers  for  cigars,  and  as  our 
fields  did  not  produce  that  shade,  the  demand  gradually  fell 
off,  until  the  production  of  it  entirely  ceased. 

x\bout  the  year  1866,  a  cheese  factory  was  erected  on  the 
south  side  of  Springfield  Street,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  first 
branch  of  Pole  Bridge  Brook,  where  it  crosses  that  street,  on 
land  then  owned  by  Edwin  B.  Brewer,  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
F.  A.  Gumey. 

The  business  was  carried  on  for  a  few  years,  furnishing  a 
market  for  a  large  amount  of  milk  from  the  surrounding  ter- 
ritor}-.  But  the  business  was  not  profitable,  and  was  abandoned 
after  a  few  years,  and  the  building  burned  some  years  later. 
A  cheese  factory  was  also  started  at  North  Wilbraham  a  few 
years  later  than  the  other,  with  about  the  same  result,  as  far 
as  the  business  part  was  concerned.  A  building  standing  on 
the  same  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  general  store  of  F.  A. 
Fuller.  The  upper  part  of  the  building  was  used  as  a  public 
hall  until  about  1890. 

After  the  failure  of  the  cheese  manufacturing  industry,  an 
increasing  amount  of  milk  was  furnished  to  the  "Springfield 
Milk  Association"  for  ten  or  fifteen  years,  until  about  twelve 
hundred  quarts  were  taken  daily,  mostly  from  West  Street. 
The  number  of  cows  in  town  increased  from  475  in  1881  to  654 
in  1890.  Since  then  the  number  has  gradually  decreased  until 
the  town  report  for  the  year  ending  March  15th,  1913,  shows 
but  398.  Some  milk  is  still  furnished  to  the  Springfield  market, 
and  the  demand  from  our  own  villages  is  supplied  from  local 
sources. 

The  business  of  raising  sheep,  and  the  production  of  wool, 


270  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

has  had  wide  fluctuations.  In  the  year  1771,  there  were  704 
sheep  in  town;  in  1838,  2292;  in  1881,  86;  in  1891,  7;  in  1901, 
9;  in  1911,  7;  and  in  1912  none.  Some  other  lines  of  business 
show  more  encouraging  results. 

THE  PEACH  INDUSTRY 

The  development  of  the  peach  industry,  in  recent  years,  has 
been  of  great  benefit  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  our  town. 

The  land  lying  along  the  western  slope  of  our  mountain  range 
seems  to  be  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  production  of  that 
luscious  and  beautiful  fruit.  And  now  about  twenty  persons  in 
this  town,  as  well  as  several  in  Hampden,  have  orchards  of  from 
several  hundred  to  several  thousand  trees,  and  "Wilbraham 
Peaches"  are  not  only  known  all  over  New  England,  but  in 
other  parts  of  our  country,  as  having  the  best  color  and  finest 
flavor  of  any  peaches  sent  to  market,  and  commission  merchants 
assure  our  growers  that  there  is  no  danger  of  over-production, 
because  the  excellence  of  the  fruit  wins  a  place  for  it  in  any 
market.  Probably  the  largest  crop  produced  in  any  one  year, 
so  far,  was  in  1911,  when  about  thirty  or  forty  thousand  baskets 
were  sold.  Of  course,  this  amount  does  not  compare  with  the 
much  larger  crops  gathered  in  the  states  further  to  the  south, 
but  it  is  a  very  respectable  beginning  for  our  town,  which  we 
expect  will  be  increased  in  the  years  to  come.  In  that  year, 
1911,  I  think  Lee  W.  Rice  had  the  largest  crop,  amounting  to 
9,600  baskets.  Among  the  other  growers  who  raised  good 
crops  that  year  may  be  mentioned,  beginning  at  the  south, 
E.  Bliss  &  Son,  James  Powers,  J.  J.  Lyons,  J.  L.  Rice,  J.  W. 
Rice,  C.  P.  Bolles,  C.  C.  Beebe,  D.  H.  Eaton,  M.  C.  Wade, 
W.  H.  McGuire,  and  others  who  raised  smaller  crops.  An 
account  of  the  beginnings  of  this  industry  may  be  of  interest 
today,  and  will  be  of  especial  interest  in  the  future,  if  the  busi- 
ness is  continued. 

In  the  year  1876,  Albert  Bliss  and  his  son  Ethelbert,  set  out 
one  hundred  peach  trees,  on  the  farm  made  famous  by  the 
tragedy  of  1761,  and  the  fourth  year  afterwards  had  one  good 
crop  of  fruit.     The  land  was  then  seeded  to  grass  with  the 


PKAC'll   I  >KCil.\UD. 


CLOVER  MOWING  IN  BLOSSOM. 
And  barn  of  Ethelbert  Bliss. 


272 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


result  that  there  was  an  excellent  crop  of  grass,  but  the  ])each 
trees  soon  died. 

About  the  year  1882,  William  R.  Sessions  set  out  two  hun- 
dred or  more  peach  trees,  on  his  farm,  about  half  a  mile  south 
of  the  farm  of  Mr.  Bliss,  and  in  1886  had  a  profitable  crop  of 
peaches.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year,  he  sowed  the  land  with 
grass  seed  and  the  trees  soon  wasted  away. 

Mr.  Ethelbert  Bliss  was  not  discouraged,  but  gave  a  good 
deal  of  thought  and  study  to  the  subject,  and  became  con- 
vinced that  with  proper  care  the  growing  of  peaches  could  be 
made  a  financial  success  here  in  Wilbraham,  as  well  as  in  some 
other  parts  of  New  England.  In  the  spring  of  1894,  he  set  out 
1,400  peach  trees  and  in  the  autumn  of  1897  he  gathered  over 
1,000  baskets  of  choice  peaches,  and  in  1898,  2,500  baskets,  and 
the  next  year  4,500  baskets.  He  continued  to  set  out  trees 
until  he  soon  had  about  twenty-five  acres  of  peach  orchards. 

So  the  commercial  peach  industry  of  Wilbraham  dates  from 
the  setting  out  of  the  1,400  trees  in  1894.  Beautiful  and  well- 
cared  for  orchards  may  now  be  seen  in  many  parts  of  our  town, 
and  many  rocky  pastures  and  neglected  fields  have  become 
beauty  spots,  producing  a  substantial  revenue.  We  hope  the 
good  work  may  be  continued. 

The  following  table  gives  the  valuation  of  the  Town  of  Wil- 
braham, and  of  some  of  the  manufacturing  industries,  showing 
the  increase  in  thirty  years. 


1881 


Wilbraham  $700,002 

Collins  Paper  Co.  120,350 

Cutler  Co.  j     41,900 

Ludlow  Mfg.  Co.  6,800 

Wilbraham  Woolen  Co.       12,600 


1891 


$758,025 

166,400 

42,400 

19,700 

16,500 


1901 


$795,345 

205,410 

42,525 

33,475 


1911 


Increase 


$1,136,659  $436,657 

310,650  190,300 

49,850  7,950 

213,725  206,925 


The  factory  of  the  Wilbraham  Woolen  Co.  was  destroyed 
May  14th,  1893.  The  loss  to  the  valuation  of  the  town  was 
$12,500. 


The  History  of  AVilbraham  273 

I  find  the  following  items,  of  interest  to  us,  in  a  copy  of 
"THE    MASSACHUSETTS 

IReoister 

AND 

UNITED   STATES   CALENDAR 
FOR  THE  YEAR  OF  OUR  LORD 
1814 

"RATES  OF  LETTER  POSTAGE 

"Every  letter  composed  of  a  single  sheet  of  paper,  conveyed 
not  above  40  miles,  8  cents;  over  40  miles,  and  not  exceeding 
90  miles,  10  cents;  over  90  miles,  and  not  exceeding  150  miles, 
12J^  cents;  over  150  miles,  and  not  exceeding  300  miles,  17 
cents;  over  300  miles,  and  not  exceeding  500  miles,  20  cents; 
over  500  miles,  25  cents. 

"Every  letter  composed  of  two  pieces  of  paper,  double  those 
rates.  Every  letter  composed  of  three  pieces  of  paper,  triple 
those  rates.  Every  letter  composed  of  four  pieces  of  paper, 
weighing  one  ounce,  quadruple  those  rates;  and  at  the  rate  of 
four  single  letters  for  each  ounce  any  letter  or  packet  may  weigh. 

"Justices  of  the  Peace  in  Wilbraham  in  1814.  Abel  Bliss,  Jr. 
Robert  Sessions.  Samuel  F.  Merrick  iVugustus  vSisson  Walter 
Stebbins. 

"Churches  and  Ministers  in  Wilbraham  in  1814.  Moses 
Warren.  Cong.  Ezra  Witter.  Cong.  Ezekiel  Terry.  Bapt. 

"List  of  Towns  on  Old  Road  from  Worcester  to  Hartford, 
with  names  of  Innkeepers  in  1814. 


Worcester 

Sikes 

Palmer 

Bates 

Leicester 

Hobart 

Wilbraham 

Caukins 

Spencer 

Jencks 

Springfield 

Williams 

Brookfield 

Draper 

Suffield 

Utley 

Western 

Blair 

Windsor 

Picket 

(now  Warren) 

Hartford 

Bennet 

THE  "CLARK"  WARNER  RECORD 

I  copy  a  few  items  from  the  record  kept  by  Samuel  Warner, 
the  precinct  "Clark,"  as  he  was  called.     The  first  entry  was 


274  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

made  "March  y"  15^*^  1734,"  the  last  "Aug.  28,  1783."  For 
forty-nine  years  and  five  months  the  faithful  "clark"  per- 
formed his  labor  of  love,  and  twelve  days  after  the  last  entry, 
he  laid  down  his  pen  forever. 

In  all  1131  births  and  311  deaths  are  recorded. 

Comfort  Warner,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Jerushe 
Warner  was  the  first  child  bom  in  the  precinct,  vear  1734. 
She  Dyed  in  1757. 

No.  240:  "Thomas  Glover  dyed  December  30"^  1745,  in  the 
88"^  year  of  his  age.  a  bachilDor,  Never  was  Married. 

No.  123:  "Charles  Brewer,  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
Brewer,  was  bom  Dec.  y*"  18"'  1748.  The  first  that  was  Bap- 
tized in  our  meeting  hous. 

No.  25:  "Ephriam  Bartlit  dyed  Febmary  the  19"^  1749-50 
in  the  77'^  year  of  his  Eage.  He  was  the  first  male  Child  that 
was  born  in  Suffield. 

"July  3^*,  1750,  there  was  a  thunder  storm  which  struck 
Moses  Burt's  house  in  Springfield  and  tore  the  southwest  comer 
almost  to  pieces,  two  children  lying  on  a  bed  on  the  same  comer 
of  the  hous  Reseved  no  Damig,  his  wife  at  the  window,  was  So 
numbed  att  first  she  new  not  what  it  was — -Nor  Can  she  give 
any  account  of  the  Claps  only  By  what  she  see  afterwards. 

No.  84:  "Timothy  Mirrick  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
Mirrick  was  bit  by  a  Ratel  Snake  on  August  the  7^*^,  1761,  and 
died  within  about  two  or  three  ours,  he  being  22  years,  two 
months  and  three  days  old  and  vary  Near  the  point  of  marridg. 

No.  52:  "Cap.  Coates  a  soldier  sickened  and  Dyed  Januarv 
the  4th  1762. 

No.  93:  "One  tramp  as  we  sopose  was  found  Dcd  on  the 
road  that  Leads  from  Na"  Blisses  to  William  King's  Soposed 
to  have  fit  of  the  appovlex  he  was  found  Wensd  16'^  Dav  of 
May,  1764. 

No.  101:  "William  Simons  a  hed  of  a  family  in  this  town 
froas  to  Death  a-going  from  Daniel  Hancock's  to  his  own  hous 
on  Saturday,  January  19""  1765,  and  lay  until  Monday  Before 
he  was  moved.    He  left  a  family  of  ten  children  with  his  Wife. 

September  12'^  1768:  "there  was  one  Miss  Hannah  Bliss 
Daughter  of  the  Rc'nt  Mr  Daniel  Bliss  of  Concord  She  Being 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  275 

one  a  gourny  to  Hartford  Came  to  the  misfertin  of  Being 
Drownded  in  agawam  river  So  called  as  she  and  a  young 
gentleman  her  Loveyeur  ware  a  riding  in  a  Chais  a  Cross  Sd. 
River.    Sweet  is  love  if  soon  parted. 

May  the  P^  1778:  "there  was  the  Body  of  a  Man  found  in 
the  Riwer  between  Lodlo  and  Wilbraham  and  a  Jurey  of 
inquest  set  on  it  and  brought  in  was  some  sarpint  laid  on  him 
was  the  casion  of  his  Death  1778 — . 

No.  236 :  "  Marey  Dumbleton,  an  old  erase  girl  dyed  January 
j^gth  1779      She  Being  seventy  (od)  years  old. 

No.  254:  "Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner  Dyed  January  lO"', 
1780,  he  being  in  the  77""  year  of  his  age;  he  gave  400  pounds 
to  the  use  of  the  gospil  and  Schooling." 

With  the  record  is  an  Almanac  for  the  year  1748,  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  years  ago.  Then  as  now  it  was  sought  to 
brighten  the  long  list  of  dates,  and  hours  for  the  rising  of  the 
sun  and  moon,  the  signs  of  the  zodiac  and  prognostications  of 
the  weather  probabilities,  by  inserting  a  verse  for  each  month. 
That  for  January  reads : 

"Nectorian  Cyder  now,  with  Pork  and  Beef, 
Gives  many  an  aching  Stomach  great  Relief. 
And  he  that  hasn't  these,  nor  Money  in  his  Purse, 
His  case  is  bad,  and's  likely  to  be  worse." 

That  for  July  is: 

"Now  wild  Ingredients  are  together  cramm'd. 
And  into  cloudy  Cannons  closely  ramm'd: 
At  whose  dread  Roar  fierce  Balls  and  Fires  are  hurl'd, 
Omens  of  that  that  must  calcine  the  World." 

This  was  twenty-eight  years  before  the  Fourth  of  July  was 
immortalized  by  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
It  would  seem  that  the  day,  or  the  month,  had  been  observed 
as  a  time  for  noisy  demonstrations  long  before  the  nation's 
natal  day  in  1776. 

The  verse  for  December  reads: 

"The  trees  to  wear  their  leafy  hatts  forbear, 
In  Reverence  to  old  Winter's  Silver  Hair; 


276  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

From  Capricorn's  cold  tropic  Sol  looks  pale, 
And  Boreas  beats  the  naked  Earth  with  Hail." 

The  last  day  of  the  year  1748  closes  with  this  report,  and 
reflection : 

"Another  year  now  is  gone 
But  ah !  how  little 
Have  we  done!" 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  IN  WILBRAHAM 

Some  of  the  early  records  of  that  church,  were  discovered  in 
an  old  desk,  a  few  years  ago,  by  Mrs.  Warner  Chapin  of  Hamp- 
den, and  were  copied  by  Rev.  C.  B.  Bliss  in  1908.  I  have  made 
a  few  extracts  from  the  copy,  which  has  been  loaned  to  me. 

"Aug.  31st.  1767. 
' '  These  are  the  record  appointed  by  a  certain  number  of  men 
that  was  scattered  up  and  down  in  the  world,  as  sheep  without 
a  shepherd.  Being  something  acquainted  with  each  other's 
mind  in  matters  of  the  greatest  concern,  we  did  appoint  this 
thirty  first  day  of  August  as  a  day  of  conferring  upon  matters 
of  faith  and  practice,  which  was  held  at  Capt.  Zachariah  Eddy's 
at  Belchertown.  After  the  meeting  was  opened  by  prayer,  we 
made  choice  of  brother  Matthew  Smith  to  lead  the  meeting; 
then  chose  brother  Seth  Clark  to  keep  the  records  for  us." 

They  then  "confi^erred"  upon  a  number  of  subjects,  among 
which  was: 

"Seventhly,  How  we  shall  find  a  minister  of  Christ.  Answer: 
We  have  him  described  to  us  in  Titus  1 :  5-10." 

"The  Articles  Of  Faith,"  were  agreed  upon  at  a  meeting  held 
October  1,  1767,  and  "The  Brotherly  Covenant  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Wilbraham,"  was  adopted  March  12'^,  1768,  and 
at  that  meeting  they  "agreed  that  Br.  Seth  Clark  has  the  gift 
of  teaching,  and  have  invited  him  to  improve,  and  likewise 
find  that  Br.  James  Eddy  has  the  gift  of  a  Deacon,  and  have 
likewise  invited  him  to  improve  in  that  place." 

At  the  meeting  held  in  "Wilbraham,  Aug.  26,  1768,"  Elder 
Noah  Alden,  Elder  Joseph  Meacham,  and  Elder  Ewings,  with 
delegates,  were  present,  "and  they  all  agreed  that  we  were  a 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  277 

church   of   Christ   in   the   Baptist   order  in   Wilbraham, — and 
Elder  Alden  baptized  Timothy  Burr." 

Several  other  meetings  are  mentioned  in  the  record,  and  I 
copy  the  following. 

"Wilbraham,  June  13,  1770. 
"At  the  request  of  the  Baptist  church  of  this  place,  the  fol- 
lowing elders  met  in  council,  for  to  assist  the  Baptist  church  in 
Wilbraham  in  setting  apart  Mr.  Seth  Clark  as  pastor  over  them 
in  the  Lord.  .  .  .  The  churches  sent  to,  and  now  present  are 
— Gloucester,  Elder  Windsor. — Bellingham,  Elder  Noah  Alden. 
— Leicester,  Elder  Nathaniel  Green. — Sturbridge,  Elder  Ewings. 
— Montague,  (no  Elder,  but  two  delegates) — Enfield,  Elder 
Meacham." 

Each  Elder  was  accompanied  by  two  or  three  delegates.  I 
have  omitted  their  names  to  save  space,  but  I  am  surprised,  and 
pleased,  to  find  the  name  of  my  great-great-grandfather,  (on 
my  mother's  side),  Israel  Kibby,  as  a  delegate  from  the  church 
at  Enfield.  The  day  of  June  13'^  was  taken  up  with  the  pre- 
liminary work  connected  with  the  or-dination  and,  "Then 
adjourned  to  June  14,  1770,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning." 

They  met  again  in  the  morning  and  continued,  and  concluded 
the  service  of  ordination,  and  the  scribe  closes  the  record  as 
follows : 

".    .    .    .    and  the  whole  conducted  with  regularity  and  order. 
Signed  in  behalf  of  Council  by, 

Elder  Noah  Alden,  Moderator 
Elder  Ewing,  Clark." 

It  seems  that  many  members  of  the  church  resided  in  other 
towns.    The  record  says: 

"July  7,  1770.  At  a  conference  meeting  held  at  Br.  James 
Eddy's — Brother  Clark  mentioned  the  difficulty  of  all  the 
church  coming  down  from  Granby  to  this  place  to  the  sacra- 
ment every  time;  requested  the  fellowship  of  the  church,  for 
him  to  administer  the  sacrament  occasionally  at  his  house,  as 
he  shall  see  fit.    The  church  gave  him  fellowship." 

On  December  15,  1770,  at  a  conference  held  at  the  request 
of  Noah  Clark  and  his  wife,  at  the  house  of  Brother  Ephraim 


278  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Wright,  "then  proceeded  to  look  into  each  others  minds  as  to 
our  present  standing,  and  after  a  due  consideration,  agreed  to 
join  in  worshiping  with  them  occasionally,  at  the  house  of  Noah 
Clark,  and  so  far  to  keep  up  a  free  worship  ....  "  It  would 
seem,  from  the  above,  that  at  first,  some  of  the  meetings  were 
held  in  other  places  besides  Wilbraham.  There  is  one  pathetic 
incident  mentioned  in  the  records  which  I  copy. 

"August  12,  1769.  Brother  Ephriam  Wright  being  under 
weak  and  languishing  consumption,  requested  a  day  to  be  set 
apart  for  prayer  for  himself  and  his  family ;  the  church  granted 
his  request. — ^he  appeared  before  the  church  with  his  family, 
and  gave  up  his  children  to  the  church,  leaving  a  charge  with 
them,  (Viz.— Ephraim  and  Lydia)." 

The  names  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  persons  are  signed  to 
the  Covenant.  Among  them  are  twelve  of  the  name  of  Butler, 
five  men  and  seven  women,  the  first  being  Joseph  Butler.  The 
one  hundred  and  twelfth  and  one  hundred  and  thirteenth  names 
are.  Patience  Atchinson  and  Tabitha  Atchinson.  Tabitha 
Atchinson  was  bom  in  Wilbraham  in  1749,  daughter  of  Benoni 
Atchinson,  who  lived  on  the  east  side  of  West  Street,  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  north  of  Springfield  Street,  nearly  opposite 
where  F.  A.  Bodurtha  now  lives.  Probably,  Patience  was  her 
sister,  bom  before  the  family  moved  to  Wilbraham. 

"Tabitha  Atchinson  own'd  y*^  Cov\"  in  the  First  church  in 
Wilbraham,  "Dec.  13"^  1767."  It  seems  strange  that  she 
should  have  gone  so  far  from  her  home,  to  join  another  church. 
Perhaps  a  case  of  discipline,  in  which  she  was  concerned  in 
1767,  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  the  change. 

The  Stebbins  History  says  that  the  Baptists  erected  a  meeting 
house  in  1779.  It  was  located  some  fifty  to  one  hundred  rods 
northwest  of  the  cemetery  at  East  Wilbraham,  and  for  a  time 
the  Society  prospered.  "From  228  members,  reported  in  1802, 
the  church  diminished  so  that  in  1807  it  is  reported  to  have 
"lost  its  visibility."  The  meeting  house  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1833.  Some  of  the  foundation  stones  are  still  in  existence. 
The  starting  of  the  Baptist  church  at  "Colton  Hollow"  in  1794, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  279 

an  account  of  which  is  given  on  another  page,  probably  had 
much  to  do  with  the  decline  of  this,  The  First  Baptist  Church 
in  Wilbraham. 

THE  GLENDALE  M.  E.  CHURCH 

After  the  removal  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Colton  Hollow, 
to  South  Wilbraham,  in  1854,  there  was  no  stated  place  for 
religious  services  in  that  portion  of  our  town,  now  called  Glen- 
dale,  but  such  services  were  held  quite  regularly  in  several 
private  houses  and  the  schoolhouse.  It  is  said  that  a  colored 
man,  Rev.  J.  N.  Mars,  who  had  been  a  slave,  preached  there 
for  some  time  about  1850. 

vSoon  after  that  time  a  Methodist  class  was  formed  by  Rev. 
Z.  A.  Mudge,  who  was  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  the 
"Centre"  in  1851-'52. 

Lorenzo  Kibbe,  who  lived  on  the  east  side  of  our  Main 
Street,  where  Mr.  J.  A.  Calkins  lives  now,  (the  Noah  Alvord 
place)  was  appointed  leader  of  the  class,  which  numbered 
twenty-nine  at  first.  Mr.  Kibbe  was  a  very  large,  portly  man, 
full  of  enthusiasm  and  religious  zeal,  very  fond  of  singing  and 
with  a  voice  like  a  trumpet.  He  walked  from  his  home,  to 
attend  the  meetings  at  Glendale  in  the  evenings,  and  when  the 
services  were  concluded,  walked  home  again.  And,  on  his 
homeward  journey,  after  having  climbed  the  eastern  slope  of 
the  mountain  and  commenced  the  descent  on  the  western  side, 
he  would  break  forth  into  song,  and  the  sound  of  his  voice  rolled 
far  down  the  mountain  side  and  could  be  heard  for  quite  a 
distance  along  our  Main  Street.  I  have  heard  it  many  times 
in  the  late  evening,  when  I  was  returning  to  my  home  from 
some  gathering  in  the  village,  along  about  the  years  1853  to 
'58.  Mr.  Kibbe  finished  his  work  as  leader  of  the  class  in  1867. 
From  a  record  kept  by  Mr.  Kibbe,  I  quote  the  following: 

"About  the  month  of  July,  following  the  organization  of  this 
Class,  as  many  of  its  members  had  not  enjoyed  the  rite  of 
baptism,  and  as  there  was  a  difference  in  the  minds  of  the  sub- 
jects, as  to  the  manner  in  which  it  should  be  administered,  it 
was  agreed  to  procure  the  services  of  both  a  Methodist  and  a 


280 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Baptist  minister.  Accordingly  Dr.  Miner  Raymond  and  Elder 
Pratt  were  engaged. — the  preaching  services  were  held  in  a 
grove,  east  of  the  school  house.  Dr.  Raymond  preaching  in  the 
forenoon  and  Elder  Pratt  in  the  afternoon,  after  which  the 
baptism  took  place.  Dr.  Raymond  baptizing  one,  and  then 
Elder  Pratt  one,  mitil  all  were  baptized." 

The  place  of  baptism  was  the  brook,  or  pond,  northwest  of 
the  house  of  A.  M.  Seaver,  then  owned  by  Jason  Stebbins,  and 
the  pond  has  since  been  used  for  the  same  purpose.     Rev. 


THE  GLENDALE  .M.  E.  CHURCH. 
Showing  Soldier.?'  Boulder  and  Cemetery  on  the  left. 


Mr.  Haskell  was  assigned  as  pastor  to  this  people  in  1867,  and 
it  was  at  his  suggestion  that  the  locality  was  called  Glendale. 
In  1868,  a  meeting  house  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  -12,000, 
above  the  foundation,  which  was  jjut  in  by  the  members  of  the 
society.  The  site  selected,  was  on  land  of  Chauncey  Bishop, 
which  was  formerly  part  of  the  farm  of  Deut\'  Partridge,  and 
his  house  must  have  been  near  where  the  church  now  is.     The 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  281 

location  is  also  near  the  north  side  of  the  "over-plus"  land  of 
the  second  division. 

The  society  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Glendale 
M.  E.  Church  in  1869. 

Rev.  Edward  Cooke,  D.D.,  Principal  of  Wesleyan  Academv 
1864-74,  attended  to  supplying  the  pulpit  for  some  time, 
sending  students  to  preach  when  unable  to  come  himself. 

Many  of  the  students  who  preached  their  first  sermon  in 
Glendale  have  since  filled  prominent  places  in  the  New  England 
Conference  and  elsewhere.  At  least  two  have  been  Presiding 
Elders,  George  Whitaker  and  John  Galbraith. 

The  people,  realizing  that  those  young  men,  who  came,  "Over 
the  Mountain  to  preach  to  the  heathen,"  must  have  a  place  to 
begin  somewhere,  were  kindly  disposed  towards  them,  and 
testify  that,  with  their  enthusiasm  and  zeal,  they  did  much 
good  in  the  community.  For  a  number  of  years  the  pastor 
who  has  supplied  the  pulpit  has  also  had  another  charge,  either 
in  Wilbraham  centre  or  at  Hampden.  The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  H.  G.  Alley,  who  was  pastor  there  for  three  years,  more 
than  twenty  years  ago.  A  Sunday  school  was  organized  about 
the  same  time  as  the  church,  and  a  library  was  gathered,  with 
some  assistance  from  Roderick  Burt,  who  was  a  Wilbraham 
man,  and  a  bookseller.  Until  the  meeting  house  was  built,  the 
books  were  kept  in  a  cupboard  in  the  old  red  schoolhouse,  and 
were  afterwards  transferred  to  a  bookcase  which  was  pre- 
sented to  the  church  for  that  purpose. 

THE  GRACE  UNION  CHURCH 
AT  NORTH  WILBRAHAM 

Previous  to  about  1874,  religious  services  were  held  occa- 
sionally at  private  houses.  Many  of  the  residents  attended 
preaching  services  at  the  Congregational  Church  in  the  Centre 
village.  A  "buss,"  or  stage,  ran  regularly  every  Sunday  for  a 
few  years,  to  carry  the  worshipers  who  did  not  have  teams  of 
their  own.  In  1874,  as  the  population  of  the  neighborhood 
increased,   services  were  held  in   Libcrtv   Hall,   over  the   old 


'282 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


cheese  factory,  where  the  store  of  F.  A.  Fuller  now  is,  on 
Sunday  afternoons.  Rev.  Martin  S.  Howard,  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  at  the  Centre,  conducted  the  services 
most  of  the  time.     A  Sunday  school  was  organized  about  the 


GRACE  UNION  CHURCH. 


same  time.  In  1876,  those  who  worshiped  in  the  hall  fomied 
the  Grace  Chapel  Society  of  Collins  Depot,  and  the  erection 
of  the  present  meeting  house  was  commenced.  The  land  on 
which  the  building  stands  was  given  to  the  societv  bv  Warren 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  283 

Collins,  who  was  the  first  station  agent  and  first  postmaster  at 
North  Wilbraham  (then  called  Collins  Depot). 

The  Chapel  was  dedicated  March  11th,  1877,  with  sermon 
by  Rev.  M.  S.  Howard,  who  was  assisted  in  the  other  services 
by  Rev.  J.  F.  McDuffie  of  Ludlow.  Previous  to  about  1878 
the  services  were  held  quite  late  in  the  afternoon,  as  Mr.  Howard 
preached  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon  at  the  church  in  the 
Centre  village.  But,  beginning  with  the  year  1878,  arrange- 
ments were  made,  so  that  the  afternoon  services  at  the  centre, 
were  transfered  to  the  church  at  North  Wilbraham,  and  the 
Grace  Chapel  Society  contributed  $300  annually  towards  Mr. 
Howard's  salary,  he  serving  both  churches.  This  arrangement 
was  continued  for  eight  years,  or  until  the  year  1886,  when 
Grace  Union  Church  was  organized.  It  was  started  as  a  union 
church  with  48  members,  representing  Congregational,  Method- 
ist, Baptist  and  other  Christian  denominations.  In  these  last 
twenty-seven  years  of  its  history  it  has  been  a  power  for  good 
in  the  community,  and  has  received  into  its  fellowship  one- 
hundred  and  seventy-two  members.  Of  the  original  members, 
eighteen  are  still  living  and  eleven  of  them  are  residents  of 
Wilbraham.  The  membership  of  the  church  at  the  present 
time  is  ninety-three. 

THE  METHODIST  SOCIETY 
AT  NORTH-EAST  WILBRAHAM 

Previous  to  1881,  a  Methodist  church  society  was  organized 
in  that  neighborhood,  and  a  meeting  house  erected  and  services 
held  in  it  for  a  number  of  years  until  about  1893,  when  the 
building  was  converted  into  a  dwelling  house  and  is  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Inez  Perry. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  UNION  SOCIETY 
AT  NORTH-EAST  WILBRAHAM 

After  the  decline  of  the  first  Baptist  Church,  I  have  not 
learned  that  any  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  that  locality 
for  some  vears. 


284 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Probably  religious  services  were  held  in  private  houses 
occasionally. 

On  April  18,  1868,  the  present  society  was  formed  and  the 
present  meeting  house  was  erected  in  that  year.  The  land  on 
which  it  stands  was  given  to  the  society  by  Col.  Benjamin 
Butler,  and  James  K.  Butler,  a  son  of  Colonel  Butler,  has  been 
clerk  of  the  society  for  many  years.     The  services  have  been 


THE  CHRISTIAN  UNION  CHURCH. 


conducted  by  ministers  of  different  denominations,  including 
those  of  the  Advent  faith,  and  in  recent  years,  for  part  of  the 
time,  by  the  pastor  of  Grace  Church  at  North  Wilbraham. 


THE  CHURCH  OF  SAINT  CECILIA 
AT  NORTH  WILBRAHAM 

A  society  of  the  Catholic  faith  was  gathered  at  North  Wil- 
braham, and  ser\aces  were  held  in  the  Liberty  Hall,  until  1890. 
when  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected.  Services  have 
been  conducted  regularly  since  that  time  by  Rev.  William 
Hart,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Palmer. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


285 


CHURCH  OF  SAINT  CECILIA. 


THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 

The  establishment  and  maintenance  of  pubHc  schools,  has 
always  been  a  matter  of  deep  interest  to  the  people  of  our 
town. 

As  early  as  1737  the  Town  of  Springfield  "Granted  to  the 
Inhabitants  at  the  Mountains  on  the  East  Side  of  the  Great 
River  for  supporting  Schooling  there  three  pounds  and  to  be 
paid  as  it  becomes  due  to  Nathan'  Warriner." 

This  appropriation  was  increased  from  year  to  year  until 
1749,  when  it  was  £  35.  But  the  apparent  increase  was  proba- 
bly due  to  a  depreciation  in  the  paper  money,  which  was  then 
at  about  seventy-five  per  cent  discount.  For,  in  1750,  the 
amount  appropriated  was  £4.  13s.  4d.  "Lawful  Money,"  (or 
coin).  This  amount  was  increased  in  1755  to  £6-16-7-1.  Qn— 
November  8,  1752,  Springfield  "Voted  that  Mr.  Jacob  White 
Mr.  Nath^'  Burt  &  L^*^  Samuel  Mirick  be  a  Com«^  to  Examine 
the  Circumstances  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Mountain  Parish 
with  Respect  to  the  Towns  Granting  them  a  sum  of  money 


286  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

towards  Defraying  the  Charge  of  building  the  School  House 
already  built  in  said  Parish  &  make  Report  to  this  meeting." 
On  November  25,  1754,  there  is  "Granted  the  sum  of  £6.  To 
be  paid  to  Ens"  James  Warriner  For  and  Towards  the  Charge 
of  Building  the  school  House  lately  built  at  the  Mountain 
Parish  so  Called  and  to  be  by  him  repaid  to  the  Several  persons 
who  were  at  the  Expense  of  building  the  same."  So  it  seems 
our  first  schoolhouse  was  built  previous  to  1752.  It  stood  on 
the  west  side  of  our  Main  Street,  about  opposite  the  present 
Congregational  Meeting  House. 

After  the  town  was  incorporated  they  voted,  on  December  1, 
1763,  "£15.  for  the  support  of  Schooling."  In  1775,  the  town 
was  divided  into  ten  districts  and  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-six  dollars  was  raised  for  the  support  of  schools.  There 
were  but  two  schoolhouses  in  town  at  that  time,  the  one 
opposite  the  Congregational  Church,  already  mentioned,  and 
one  on  the  "middle,"  or  Ridge  Road,  about  where  the  school- 
house  of  District  No.  5  now  is.  The  schools  were  mostly  kept 
in  rooms  in  private  houses. 

The  teachers  "boarded  round,"  remaining  at  each  house 
where  there  were  scholars  from  three  to  twelve  days.  In  the 
Wilbraham  History,  Dr.  Stebbins  says: 

"This  system  was  continued  down  to  a  recent  period, — into 
my  own  days  of  school-teaching,  and  perhaps  since.  It  was  a 
great  occasion,  for  the  children  especially,  to  have  the  school- 
master come  to  their  house  to  board.  The  goodies  were  to  be 
arranged  in  tempting  richness  and  abundance  upon  the  table. 

"With  what  bewitching  grace  of  mingled  fear  and  delight 
would  the  little  girl,  her  face  all  rosy  with  modesty,  her  eye 
sparkling  with  expectation,  stammeringly,  half -curtesy  ing, 
half-hesitating,  announce  to  you  the  thrilling  news  that  all 
things  were  now  ready,  and  that  'mother  wants  you  to  come 
and  board  to  our  house  next  week.'  iVnd  when  you  gave  the 
welcome  reply,  '  I  shall  be  happy  to  go,'  how  lightly  and  jocundly 
she  bounded  away  to  announce  the  news  to  the  en\'ious  group 
of  her  companions ! 

"From  that  night  on,  what  a  stir  was  under  that  roof!  The 
candlesticks  are  scoured,  the  andirons  put  in  order;  the  best 
bed,  which  had  not  been  occupied  for  half  a  year,  perchance. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  287 

overhauled;  the  best  knives  and  forks  taken  out  of  their  quiet 
resting-place  and  polished;  the  baby's  dresses  looked  after  and 
ironed  out;  in  short,  there  was  a  universal  brushing  up  and 
smoothing  down  of  the  whole  premises.  Especially  did  Jemima 
experiment  on  the  possibility  of  an  unaccustomed  curl  or  crimp 
in  her  auburn  hair.  And  when  the  time  came  for  the  master  to 
make  one  of  the  household,  how  many  benedictions  did  he  pro- 
nounce on  the  extra  rye-and-indian  bread;  the  luscious  spare- 
rib;  the  smoking  cakes;  and  above  all  on  the  sweet,  darling 
baby !  And  with  what  earnest  importunity  did  the  proud  mother 
insist  upon  his  taking  one  inore  piece  of  the  cake  redolent  of  the 
molasses  coating,  and  making  refusal  impossible  by  insinuat- 
ingly announcing  that  Jemima  made  it!  Ah,  those  were 
halcyon  days, — the  elysium  of  schoolmasters!" 

They  were  good  days  for  the  children  too.  It  brought  them 
into  a  closer  and  more  intimate  relation  with  the  teacher  and 
did  them  good.  I  can  speak  from  experience,  for  I  remember 
when  the  school  teacher  boarded,  for  a  week  or  more,  in  my 
own  home. 

In  1791  the  town  appropriated  £100,  to  be  divided  among 
the  school  districts  in  proportion  to  the  money  they  paid  into 
the  treasury,  to  assist  in  the  erection  of  school  houses.  This 
appropriation  was  continued  for  three  years. 

In  order  to  give  better  opportunities  to  those  who  were 
aspiring  for  more  instruction,  the  town  appropriated,  in  1792- 
'93,  £12  each  year,  "to  the  School  District  in  which  lives  Samuel 
F.  Merrick,  Provided  they  keep  a  Gramar  School  six  months 
from  the  present  time  and  the  Inhabitants  of  the  whole  town 
have  Liberty  to  send  schollars  to  said  School,  said  School  to  be 
under  the  direction  of  the  selectmen."  The  town  furthermore 
voted  ' '  that  the  scholars  of  such  parents  as  did  not  furnish  one 
quarter  of  a  cord  of  wood  cut  fit  for  the  fire  before  the  first  of 
January,  should  not  be  taught  at  school,  and  if  any  teacher 
violated  the  rule  no  order  should  be  given  for  wages."  Dr. 
Stebbins  further  says: 

"Our  schools  have  been  constantly  improving.  A  geography 
with  an  atlas  was  introduced  as  early  as  1820.  Dabol  super- 
seded Pike;   and  Smith,  Dabol.     It  is  only  in  verv  recent  times 


288  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

that  boys  generally  have  been  rash  enough  or  bold  enough  to 
study  grammar  and  geography,  or  girls  hardy  and  courageous 
enough  to  study  arithmetic.  I  remember  the  first  boy  who  was 
presumptuous  enough  to  venture  on  fractions.  ...  I  believe 
I  was  myself  the  first  person  who  taught  Colburn's  Intellectual 
Arithmetic  in  town;  it  was  in  1828.  Gradual  improvement 
has  marked  them  from  the  beginning.  .  .  .  Posterity  will  be 
more  grateful  for  nothing  you  leave  them  than  for  good  public 
schools." 

Besides  the  public  schools,  there  were  men  in  town  who 
taught  private  schools,  where  better  instruction  was  given. 
Rev.  Mr.  Witter  had  such  a  school.  He  lived  on  the  west  side 
of  our  main  street,  just  south  of  the  lane  that  leads  ofi^  to  the 
west,  directly  opposite  Federal  Lane,  where  Mrs.  Thompson 
now  lives.  Mr.  Witter  was  pastor  here  from  1797  to  1814. 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Brown  taught  a  grammar  school.  He  was  the 
minister  here  from  1818  to  1827.  In  the  Glendale,  or  Colton 
Hollow  district.  Elder  Alvin  Bennett  had  private  scholars,  and 
sometimes  taught  a  public  school.  Rev.  Mr.  Warren,  of  the 
South  Parish,  had  private  scholars  until  his  death.  He  was 
pastor  there  from  1788  until  1829.  "By  these  means,  the 
children  of  the  town,"  in  those  early  days,  "were  enabled  to 
obtain  a  very  respectable  education  without  leaving  its  limits." 

On  November  8,  1825,  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  now  known 
as  Wilbraham  Academy,  was  opened  for  the  reception  of 
students,  and  has  furnished  an  excellent  opportunity,  for  such 
of  our  children  as  desired  a  higher  education  than  could  be 
obtained  in  the  public  schools.  Probably  we  do  not  half  realize 
the  great  benefit  the  Academy  has  been  to  our  town,  in  many 
ways.  The  closing  of  the  Academy  as  a  co-educational  school 
in  June,  1911,  was  a  distinct  loss  to  many  of  our  young  people. 
But  the  opening  of  the  Academy  under  its  new  name  of  Wil- 
braham Academy,  in  1912,  restored  to  the  boys  the  opportuni- 
ties of  a  high  school  education  near  their  own  homes,  and  we 
have  every  reason  for  wishing  this  institution  a  prosperous 
future. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 

In  the  conducting  of  the  business  matters  of  our  public 
schools,  previous  to  1875,  the  "School  District"  system  pre- 
vailed. 

The  voters  in  each  district  held  an  annual  meeting  and  elected 
a  Prudential  Committee,  who  had  charge  of  the  selection  of 
teachers  and  all  other  matters  in  connection  with  the  carrying 
on  of  the  work.  The  bills  which  they  presented,  after  being 
approved  by  the  town  school  committee,  were  paid  by  the 
town. 

If  a  new  schoolhouse  was  built  in  any  district,  the  expense 
was  met  by  a  tax  assessed  on  the  residents  and  property  in  that 
particular  district.  The  district  system  was  abolished  in  1875, 
the  town  purchasing  the  property  of  the  twelve  school  districts, 
at  the  appraised  value  of  $16,531.  The  tax  rate  that  year  was 
$28  on  $1,000.  But  of  the  $27,979  raised,  $16,547  was  remitted 
to  the  taxpayers  of  the  several  school  districts.  In  1872,  draw- 
ing was  first  taught  in  the  public  schools.  The  school  com- 
mittee, in  their  report  to  the  town  for  that  year,  say,  "What  a 
revolution!  instead  of  a  child  being  punished  for  acting  out  his 
nature  in  drawing  pictures  in  school,  as  'in  days  of  auld  lang 
syne,'  he  is  now  commanded  to  do  it."  And  they  also  say,  that 
in  accordance  with  the  law,  "we  have  introduced  Bartholomew's 
Drawing  Cards,  during  the  winter  term." 

The  instruction  in  drawing  was  given  by  the  teachers  in  the 
different  schools  until  1896,  when  the  town  made  an  appropria- 
tion for  that  purpose  of  $100,  and  also  an  appropriation  of  $150, 
for  the  teaching  of  music,  and  a  special  teacher  was  employed 
in  each  branch,  who  gave  instruction  in  all  the  schools,  which 
practice  has  been  continued  to  the  present  time.  In  1892,  the 
people  in  the  several  districts,  acting  with  the  school  children, 
procured  flags  for  every  school  building. 

As  the  children  care  for  these  flags  and  raise  them  over  their 
buildings,  they  will  be  reminded  of  the  great  achievements 
which  have  been  made  in  our  country,  and  we  trust  they  will 
be  an  inspiration  to  them,  to  do  well  their  part,  as  they  enter 
into  the  larger  life  which  increase  of  years  brings  to  us  all.  In 
1893,  the  town  began  to  pay  the  tuition  of  the  high  school  pupils 


290  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

at  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  twelve  attending  in  the  fall  term, 
and  fifteen  in  the  winter.  In  the  same  year.  Miss  Mary  L. 
Poland  began  her  long  service  as  superintendent  of  schools,  in 
a  district  consisting  of  the  towns  of  Ludlow,  Longmeadow, 
Hampden  and  Wilbraham,  giving  to  the  schools  of  each  town 
the  benefit  of  skilled  supervision,  and  her  work  has  proved 
generally  successful  and  satisfactory.  Since  the  closing  of  the 
Academy  as  a  co-educational  school,  the  girls  of  our  town,  who 
desire  a  high  school  education,  find  it  necessary  to  attend  the 
high  schools  in  Springfield,  Palmer  or  Ludlow,  as  most  con- 
venient for  them,  and  some  of  our  boys  are  attending  the  schools 
in  those  places.  During  the  past  year,  twenty-six  have  attended 
the  schools  in  those  towns,  and  five  have  attended  the  Wilbra- 
ham Academy.  The  total  expense  for  high  school  and  academy 
tuition  for  the  past  year  has  been  $2,468.50.  About  one-half  of 
this  expense  will  be  refunded  by  the  state. 

The  following  table  shows  the  amounts  appropriated  by  the 
town  for  school  purposes,  the  amounts  expended,  and  the  num- 
ber of  scholars  for  the  years  mentioned. 


Town  Report 

Appropriated 

Expended 

Number  of 

for  Year 

Scholars 

1883 

$2,075.00 

$2,415.00 

234 

1893 

2,750.00 

3,943.00 

240 

1903 

4,350.00 

6,705.00 

241 

1913 

6,970.00 

11,271.00 

252 

It  will  be  understood  that  there  are  some  sources  of  revenue 
for  school  expenses,  in  addition  to  the  amount  appropriated  by 
the  town. 

In  the  historical  address,  delivered  here  in  1831,  by  Dr. 
Samuel  F.  Merrick,  after  speaking  of  the  small  amounts  allowed 
by  Springfield  for  schooling  in  the  Mountain  Parish,  previous  to 
1763,  he  says,  substantially,  "Those  insignificant  sums,  do  not 
compare  with  the  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  we  are  spend- 
ing this  year  for  schools."  And  Dr.  Stebbins  said  in  his  cen- 
tennial address,  "Never,  probably,  were  the  public  schools  in 
better  condition  than  today.    Gradual  impro\'cmcnt  has  marked 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  291 

them  from  the  beginning.  There  is  yet,  however,  abundant 
room  for  improvement,  and  you  will  make  it.  This  year  you 
pay  seventeen  hundred  and  forty-two  dollars  for  the  support 
of  your  schools,  in  the  midst  of  a  terrible  civil  war,  while  only 
twenty  years  ago,  in  1840,  in  a  time  of  profound  peace  you  paid 
not  half  as  much — only  eight  hundred  dollars.  Onward!  the 
path  grows  brighter  and  brighter." 

It  is  interesting  and  of  value,  to  recall  these  items  from  the 
past,  and  compare  them  with  conditions  as  they  exist  at  the 
present  time,  and  feel  assured  that  we  have  made  some  progress, 
and  that  the  path  towards  a  higher  education  for  our  children, 
has  grown  "brighter  and  brighter." 

I  copy  another  message  that  comes  from  the  past.  In  an 
account  book,  kept  by  one  of  our  school  teachers,  of  her  receipts 
and  expenses,  while  teaching  school  in  another  town  in  1834, 
I  find  that  she  received  $150  for  the  year's  salary.  After  deduct- 
ing the  amount  she  paid  for  board  and  other  expenses,  she  writes, 

"Settled  with  Mr.  Smith  my  whole  account  being  $49.85.  I 
have  now  after  paying  Mr.  Smith  and  the  money  also  I  paid  for 
necessary  expenses  $52.26,  but  $81.40  is  what  I  should  have 
had  now,  if  I  had  not  expended  any." 

In  1881,  a  law  was  enacted  by  the  legislature,  giving  women 
the  right  to  vote  for  members  of  the  school  committee  upon  the 
payment  of  a  poll  tax.  Mrs.  S.  F.  White  has  the  honor  of  being 
the  first  woman  to  be  elected  a  member  of  the  school  committee 
in  our  town.    She  served  for  the  years  1890  and  1891. 

Miss  Evanore  O.  Beebe  was  elected  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee in  1905,  and  has  served  continuallv  since  that  time. 


ON  JUNE  14TH  1912 
The  GR.A.DUATING  Exercises  of  the  Grammar  Schools 

WERE    HELD    IN    THE    ACADEMY    FiSK    HaLL 

In  anticipation  of  the  approaching  anniversary  of  the  incor- 
poration of  the  town,  the  school  committee,  assisted  by  the 
district    superintendent,     prepared    an    interesting    historical 


z  •- 


2  ^ 


294  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

exercise  for  the  occasion.  Scenes  from  the  ancient  life  of  the 
town  were  presented  by  the  great-great -great-grandchildren  of 
those  early  settlers.  Clad  in  "y^  ancient  garb,"  there  appeared 
representatives  of  the  "Worthy  and  Rev'*  Noah  Mirick," 
"Good  Deacon  Warriner,"  "Faithful  Teacher  Mary  Newell," 
and  others  who  have  won  our  esteem  and  affection  because 
of  the  work  they  wrought  here  in  those  days  of  long 
ago. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 

PROGRAMME 

Song:    "Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic," 
Oldtime  School.    Miss  Mary  Newell,  Teacher. 

CLASS  IN  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  WILBRAHAM 

Song:    "The  Landing  of  the  Pilgrims." 

History  of  the  Middle  Ages  of  Wilbraham. 

Part  1.     1636-1741.    Part  2.     1741-1763. 

Hymn.    Choir  Leader,  Deacon  Warriner. 

Volume  II.     Part  II.  1741-1763. 

Song:    "On  Springfield  Mountain." 

Volume  III.     1763-1787. 

Song:    "Shays's  Rebellion." 

Volume  IV.    Part  I.     1787-1863. 

Song :   ' '  Marcus  Lyon. ' ' 

Volume  IV.    Part  II.     1787-1863. 

Poem:    "Of  Wilbraham."  1  Jennie 

Poem:    "A  Song  of  the  Mountain"  \  Tupper 

J  Dowe 
Valedictory.    From  Address  of  Rev.  Rufus  P.  Stebbins. 
"Portuguese  Hymn." 

A  warding  of  Diplomas. 
"The  Star-Spangled  Banner." 
Salute. 

THE  SOUTH  WILBRAHAM  ACADEMY 

About  1850  an  Academy  was  started  at  South  Wilbraham, 
with  George  Brooks  as  first  principal.  With  some  interruptions 
the  school  was  continued  for  thirty  or  forty  years,  having  at 
times  forty  or  more  students,  but  was  discontinued  several 
years  ago,  and  the  building  is  now  the  Town  House. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


295 


REPRESENTATIVES  FROM  WILBRAHAM  TO  THE 
GENERAL  COURT  AT  BOSTON 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Representatives  sent  to  the 
General  Court  from  1786  up  to  the  present  time.  From  1763 
till  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  town  voted  with  Springfield 
for  Representatives: — 


Stephen  Stebbins. 

Abraham  Avery  and 

Stephen  Stebbins 

Walter  Stebbins  and 

Wm.  Knight. 

Walter  Stebbins  and 

Wm.  Knight. 

Walter  Stebbins  and 

Wm.  Wood. 

Jesse  W.  Rice,  M.  D.  and 

Wm.  V.  Sessions. 

Stephen  Stebbins. 

John  Newell 

Marcus  Cady,  M.  D. 

John  Carpenter. 

Samuel  Beebe. 

Voted  not  to  send. 

No  choice. 

Voted  not  to  send. 

John  Smith. 

None  elected. 

No  choice;    two  meetings  for 

the  purpose. 

Roderick  S.  Merrick, 

second  meeting. 

S.  C.  Spelman. 

No  choice. 

Philip  P.  Potter. 

John  W.  Langdon. 

John  Baldwin. 

John  B.  Morris. 

Roderick  Burt,  Dist.  No.  3. 

Rep.  from  Longmeadow, 

Dist.  No.  3. 

Wm.  P.  Spelman,  Dist.  No.  3. 

Rep.  from  Longmeadow, 

Joseph  McGregory, 

Rep.  from  Longmeadow, 

Walter  Hitchcock, 

John  M.  Merrick 

William  R.  Sessions, 

Ira  G.  Potter 

Ephraim  Allen, 

Francis  E.  Clark 


1786-88,  Phineas  Stebbins. 

1833 

1789-92,  None. 

1834 

1793-94,  John  Bliss. 

1795,  None. 

1835 

1796-1803,  John  Bliss. 

1804,  None. 

1836 

1805,  Phineas  Stebbins 

1806,  None. 

1837 

1807,  Wm.  Ringe  and 

Solomon  Wright. 

1838 

1808,  None. 

1809,  William  Ringe  and 

1839 

Augustus  Sisson. 

1840 

1810,  Augustus  Sisson  and 

1841 

Walter  Stebbins. 

1842 

1811,  Walter  Stebbins  and 

1843 

Abel  Bliss,  Jr. 

1844 

1812,  None. 

1845 

1813,  William  Clark  and 

1846 

Joseph  Lathrop. 

1847 

1814-15,  Robert  Sessions  and 

1848 

Joseph  Lathrop. 

1849 

1816,  Robert  Sessions  and 

Moses  Burt. 

1850, 

1817,  Robert  Sessions  and 

William  Wood. 

1851, 

1818-19,  None. 

1852, 

1820,  Abel  Bliss. 

1853, 

1821-23,  None 

1854, 

1824,  Abel  BUss. 

1855, 

1825,  Voted  not  to  send. 

1856, 

1826,  Abel  Bliss  and 

1857, 

Dudley  B.  Post. 

1858, 

1827,  Abel  BHss  and 

Robert  Sessions. 

1859, 

1828,  Luther  Brewer. 

1860, 

1829,  Luther  Brewer  and 

1861, 

Jacob  B.  Merrick. 

1862, 

1830,  William  S.  Burt  and 

1863, 

Jacob  B.  Merrick 

1866, 

1831,  Moses  Burt  and 

1868, 

Wm.  S.  Burt. 

1870, 

1832,  Abraham  Avery  and 

1872, 

Wm.  S.  Burt. 

1874, 

The  History  of  Wilbraham 


1877,  Horace  M.  Sessions. 
1881,  Chauncey  E.  Peck. 
1885,  Moses  H.  Warren. 
1888,  Henry  Clark. 
1892,  Sumner  Smith 


1894,  Jason  Butler 
1900,  Charles  C.  Beebe. 
1909,  E.  W.  Wall,  died. 
Clarence  P.  BoUes. 


It  appears,  that  from  about  the  year  1800  to  1839,  the  town 
of  Wilbraham  was  entitled  to  send  two  representatives  to  the 
legislature  each  year;  from  1839  to  1857,  one  each  year;  from 
1857  to  1877,  one  every  other  year.  Since  1877,  the  opportunity 
to  send  a  representative  has  been  gradually  diminishing  until 
the  present  time,  when  we  are  permitted  to  nominate  a  candi- 
date only  once  in  about  ten  years. 

Previous  to  1866,  the  year  in  which  the  representatives  were 
elected  is  given.  Beginning  with  1866,  the  year  in  which  they 
served  is  given.  , 


TOWN  CLERKS  OF  WILBRAHAM 


1741-55,  David  Merrick,  1842, 

Prec't  Clerk.  1846- 

1756-63,  Isaac  Brewer,  1848- 

Prec't  Clerk.  1850, 

1763-73,  Ezra  Barker.  1851- 

1773-78,  James  Warriner.  1853- 

1779-80,  Noah -Warriner.  1855, 

1781-85,  James  Warriner.  1856, 

1785-86,  Pliny  Merrick.  1857- 

1786-90,  Samuel  F.  Merrick.  1859- 

1791-92,  John  Buckland.  1861, 

1793,  Daniel  Dana.  1862, 

1793-1805,  Robert  Sessions.  1863- 

1805-10,  Philip  Morgan.  1865- 

1810-11,  Augustus  Sisson.  1867- 

1811-12,  Abel  Bliss.  1869- 

1812-14,  Philip  Morgan.  1871, 

1814-20,  Moses  Burt.  1872, 

1820-24,  Calvin  Stebbins.  1873- 

1824-25,  Luther  Brewer.  1875- 

1826,  William  Wood.  1880- 

1827,  Luther  Brewer.  1886- 

1828,  John  McCray.  1890, 
1829-36,  Sylvanus  Stebbins.  1891- 
1837-38,  Luther  Brewer.  1898- 
1839,  Luther  B.  Bliss.  1903- 
1840-41,  John  M.  Merrick.  1909 


John  McCray. 
47,  Roderick  vS.  Merrick. 
49,  Soloman  C.  Spelman. 

Jesse  W.  Rice. 
52,  Luther  B.  Bliss. 
54  Horace  M.  Sessions. 

Roderick  Burt. 

Ralph  Glover. 
58,  William  P.  Spelman. 
60,  H.  Bridgman  Brewer. 

Howard  Staunton. 

James  Staunton. 
4,  John  M.  Merrick. 
6,  Gilbert  Rockwood. 

8,  Francis  E.  Clark. 
■70,  Sullivan  U.  vStaunton. 

Robert  R.  Wright,  Jr. 
Chauncey  E.  Peck. 
4,  William  P.  Spellman. 

9,  Erasmus  B.  Gates. 
■5,  Charles  E.  Stacy. 
■9,  W.  E.  Stone. 

Henry  Cutler. 
•7,  Charles  E.  Stacy. 
•1902,  Frank  A.  Fu'ller. 
■8,  Edwin  W.  Wall. 
-,  Wm.  H.  McGuire,  Jr. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  297 

LIST  OF  PHYSICIANS 

John  Stearns.  Daniel  Uflford. 

Gordon  Percival.  Edwin  McCray. 

vSamuel  F.  Merrick.,  Marcus  Cady. 

Judah  Bliss.  Abial  Bottom. 

Abiah  South  worth.  Stebbins  Foskit. 

Converse  Butler.  James  M.  Foster. 

Luther  Brewer.  Horace  G.  Webber. 

Jacob  Lyman.  W.  H.  Bliss. 

Elisha  Ladd.  A.  O.  Squier. 

Gideon  Kibbe.  Arthur  L.  Damon. 

Jesse  W.  Rice.  George  T.  Ballard. 
John  Goodale, 

DIVISION  OF  THE  TOWN 
And  now  we  come  to  the  parting  of  the  ways. 

In  ordinary  life,  about  half  the  population  of  the  world  are 
privileged  to  change  their  names  at  least  once,  and  a  great 
majority  of  such  persons  accept  that  privilege,  and  seem  to 
enjoy  the  experience.  And  so  it  came  about  in  the  history  of 
our  town,  that  the  south  part  wished  to  change  its  name.  It 
was  nothing  new. 

In  1766,  and  again  in  1768,  there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant 
for  the  town  meeting  as  follows :  ' '  To  see  if  the  Town  will  give 
Liberty  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  South  part  of  Wilbraham  that 
they  have  Two  Months  Preaching  in  the  winter  .season  upon 
their  own  Cost."  The  article  "was  passed  in  the  negative." 
But  those  who  desired  a  change  were  not  discouraged,  and  the 
question  came  up  again  and  again.  In  1772,  a  petition  was 
presented,  and  as  it  gives  some  light  on  the  conditions  which 
then  existed  I  insert  it. 

July  20"!  1772  Petition  by  Asa  Chaffee  and  in  behalf  of  others. 
Presented  to  the  town  to  set  off  the  south  part  of  the  town  as  a  town  by 
itself,  says  (very  much  condensed)  "We  have  47  families  in  the  part 
asked  for  and  20  young  men — exclusive  of  Wales  as  it  is  called  which 
borders  upon  us — tis  not  any  dissatisfaction  with  our  Rev.  Pastor  or 
offense  taken  with  y^  C^h — our  distance  from  meeting  is  so  great,  ye 
season  a  great  part  of  y^  year  difficult,  and  we  so  unable  to  keep  Horses  & 
Furniture  that  it  is  truly  y^  case  that  far  y^  greater  part  of  our  Families 
are  obliged  to  stay  at  home. — and  well  knowing  what  a  tendency  staying 
from  Public  Worship  has  to  indispose  people  therto — tis  a  continual  greaf 
to  us.  that  so  many  in  our  families  are  obliged  to  stay  at  home  on  Sabbath 
days." 


298  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

This  petition  brought  an  article  into  the  warrant  as  follows: 
"Art.  3^^,  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  off  the  South  end  of  the 
Town  as  far  north  as  the  south  side  of  Othinel  Hitchcocks  lot 
(on  the  west  to  Middle  Road,  then  on  north  side  of  Abel  Kings 
lot  to  Monson)  to  be  a  Town  by  ourselves."  The  town  clerk 
adds,  "an  unintelligible  article."  No  action  was  taken  on  it. 
The  division  of  the  town  into  two  parishes  in  1782,  relieved  the 
situation  for  a  time.  In  1840,  there  was  an  Article,  "9'^  To  see 
if  the  Town  will  vote  to  divide  the  Town  on  the  line  of  the 
parishes  in  case  they  do  not  build  a  Town  House."  "Voted 
not  to  divide  the  Town."  But  at  last,  after  more  than  a  hun- 
dred years  from  the  time  when  a  division  of  the  town  was  first 
presented,  on  November  6th,  1877,  the  town  again  voted  on  the 
question.  The  vote  was  taken  by  roll-call,  and  was  at  a  town 
meeting  held  in  South  Wilbraham.  Out  of  203  votes  cast,  only 
19  voted  against  division.  On  March  28,  1878,  the  Legislature 
passed  an  Act  incorporating  the  present  town  of  Hampden. 
Good-bye,  old  friends.  There  was  many  a  wordy  battle  between 
the  two  sections  at  different  town  meetings,  but,  considering  the 
nature  of  man,  and  all  the  conditions  which  surrounded  us,  we 
worked  fairly  well  together  in  those  by-gone  days.  At  the  town 
meeting  held  April  1st,  1878,  three  days  after  the  passing  of  the 
Act,  "The  new  town  of  Hampden  was  invited  to  participate  in 
the  meeting  in  all  but  voting  for  town  officers."  Showing  that 
harmony  and  good-will  prevailed  between  the  two  sections. 
The  same  feeling  of  good-will  has  continued  through  all  the 
years  since  then. 

THE  MEMORIAL  TOWN  HALL 
I  have  no  desire  to  revive,  or  to  keep  alive,  any  of  the  feeling 
which  existed  in  different  sections  of  the  town  on  this  subject, 
some  twenty -five  or  more  years  ago.  But  I  feel  that  a  brief 
statement  of  some  of  the  facts  should  be  made,  as  part  of  our 
town  history. 

The  question  of  building  a  Town  Hall  had  been  considered  by 
the  voters  for  many  years.  I  have  found  articles  in  the  warrant 
for  town  meetings  in   1838,    1840  and   1844  relating  to  that 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  299 

matter.  The  article  in  the  warrant  calling  the  meeting  in  1840 
reads:  "To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  to  locate  the  Town  House, 
if  they  agree  to  build  one,  on  the  Green  so  called  near  the  house 
of  John  Adams."  At  the  April  meeting  in  1885,  the  following 
article  was  in  the  warrant : 

"Art.  16,  To  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  to  erect  a  monument 
to  the  memory  of  the  men  of  Wilbraham  who  died  for  their 
country  in  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  make 
all  necessary  appropriations,  and  choose  a  committee  to  carry 
the  same  into  effect." 

A  committee  of  five  was  chosen  to  consider  the  matter  and  to 
report  at  a  later  meeting.  About  a  month  later  the  committee 
reported  in  favor  of  building  a  Memorial  Town  Hall,  and  that 
it  be  located  on  the  lot  where  the  Soldiers'  Monument  now  is, 
which  is  very  near  the  exact  centre  of  the  town. 

The  town  accepted  the  report,  voted  to  build  and  chose  a 
committee  of  five  to  proceed  with  the  work.  At  that  time  the 
lot  was  owned  by  James  B.  Crane  of  Dalton,  whose  mother  was 
daughter  of  Gaius  Brewer,  who  had  lived  on  the  lot  for  many 
years  and  until  his  death  in  1843,  when  the  place  was  occupied 
by  his  son  John,  until  his  death  in  1860.  The  committee  pur- 
chased the  lot  of  James  B.  Crane  for  $500,  his  brother,  Zenas 
M.  Crane,  also  of  Dalton,  paying  one-half  of  the  price,  as  a 
present  to  the  town. 

The  committee  selected  a  plan  for  a  building  and  received 
bids  for  its  erection. 

But  there  were  some  in  town  who  desired  a  different  location, 
and  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Court,  asking  for  an  in- 
junction to  restrain  the  committee  from  going  on  with  the 
work,  claiming  that  the  action  of  the  town  was  illegal. 

The  hearing  on  the  petition  delayed  matters  until  about  the 
first  of  January,  1886,  when  the  Supreme  Court  declared  that 
the  action  taken  by  the  town  was  legal. 

A  meeting  of  the  building  committee  was  held  January  21st, 
1886,  and  three  bids  were  received  for  doing  the  work:  One 
from  Joseph  Hayden  of  Springfield  for  $10,000;    one  from  the 


300  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Flynt  Building  &  Construction  Co.  of  Palmer  for  $9,060;  a 
bid  which  I  presented  was  lower  than  these,  and  the  contract 
was  awarded  to  me  for  $8,475.  The  winter  of  1886  was  very 
mild,  and  the  excavation  for  the  walls  and  basement  was  soon 
completed.  The  walls  were  to  be  of  red  sandstone,  rough  ashler 
work,  to  about  four  feet  above  the  ground  and  then  of  brick. 

The  stone  for  the  foundation  was  drawn  from  an  abandoned 
quarry  on  the  west  side  of  West  Street,  about  opposite  where 
Dr.  James  M.  Pease  now  lives. 

The  stone  for  the  rough  ashler  work,  above  the  ground,  was 
procured  from  the  quarry  at  Sixteen  Acres.  The  walls  were 
all  completed  to  four  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground  earh' 
in  April.  At  the  April  town  meeting,  after  a  long  discussion,  the 
town  voted  to  accept  the  work  that  had  been  done  and  to  go  on 
and  complete  it. 

The  meeting  was  continued  to  about  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening  when,  some  of  the  voters  having  gone  home,  a  motion 
to  reconsider  prevailed,  and  it  was  voted  not  to  build. 

Weary  with  the  long  strife,  those  who  favored  the  project 
gave  it  up,  and  we  have  no  town  hall  yet.  A  lawsuit  was 
necessary  before  the  contractor  received  pay  for  the  work  he 
had  done,  and  it  was  about  three  years  before  the  matter  was 
settled. 

The  expense  to  the  town  was  a  little  more  than  $3,000. 

THE  ELECTRIC  RAILWAY 

In  March,  1870,  the  first  horse-car  was  rvm  on  the  street 
railway  in  Springfield,  and  in  1890,  part  of  their  system  of  street 
railways  was  equipped  with  electric  motor  cars  and  the  use  of 
horse  power  was  discontinued  as  rapidly  as  possible  and  the 
"trolly"  system  adopted.  The  lines  were  gradually  extended 
and,  on  September  17th,  1901,  the  electric  cars  began  running 
regularly  through  the  north  part  of  our  town.  Efforts  have 
been  made  by  our  citizens  to  have  the  line  extended  along 
Springfield  Street  to  our  centre  village,  and  thence  to  North 
Wilbraham  to  connect  with  the  present  line  there,  but  without 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  301 

success  so  far.    The  Street  Railway  and  Excise  tax  received  by 
the  town  for  the  year  ending  February  22nd,  1913,  was  $4,518.15. 

THE  TELEPHONE 

A  private  telephone  line  was  constructed  from  North  Wilbra- 
ham to  our  centre  village  by  Dr.  S.  Foskit  and  the  Wesleyan 
Academy,  and  was  in  use  in  1880.  About  1884,  Dr.  H.  G. 
Webber  made  use  of  the  line.  The  charge  at  first  was  about 
$30  per  year,  but  about  1886  the  price  was  raised  to  $100  per 
year.  The  subscribers  declined  to  pay  the  charge  and  the 
telephones  were  removed. 

In  1903,  the  public  line  was  built  and  was  in  use  about  the 
middle  of  January,  1904. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1914,  there  were  about  106  subscribers 
on  the  several  lines  radiating  from  the  "Collins  House"  at 
North  Wilbraham,  and  the  welcome  tinkle  of  the  "telephone 
call"  is  now  heard  in  many  of  the  homes  throughout  the  entire 
territory  of  Wilbraham. 

THE  CALIFORNIA  ADVENTURERS 

From  about  1849  to  about  1855,  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  spread  over  the  country  like 
wildfire,  and  thrilled  in  the  hearts  of  the  young  men  of  that 
time,  until  they  saw  visions  of  great  wealth  waiting  for  them 
on  that  far  shore,  if  they  only  had  the  courage  to  go  and  gather 
it. 

Here  and  there,  one  with  the  wanderlust  more  strongly 
developed,  determined  to  make  the  attempt,  and  small  com- 
panies from  many  communities  pledged  themselves  to  go. 
Public  meetings  of  neighbors  were  held  to  wish  them  Godspeed. 

A  shooting  match  was  held  in  East  Longmeadow,  in  a  field 
about  75  rods  southwest  of  the  Baptist  Church,  where  the 
adventurers  might  test  their  newly  acquired  rifles.  And  when 
the  shot  of  some  adventurer  rang  out,  and  the  signal  showed 
that  the  bullet  had  hit  the  mark,  cheers  went  up  and  the  air 
thrilled  with  excitement. 


302  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

A  song,  "The  Golden  Lure,"  was  sung  and  shouted  to  a 
rollicking  "hurrah,  boys"  tune.  The  chorus  and  several  lines 
of  the  song  have  been  told  me  by  one  of  those  who  used  to  sing 
it,  and  I  have  reconstructed  some  of  the  verses. 

THE  GOLDEN  LURE 

We've  heard  a  tale  of  a  western  land, 
Where  gold  is  found  in  the  river's  sand, 
And  all  one  needs  is  a  spade  and  pick. 
To  take  out  chunks  as  big  as  a  brick. 

Chorus 

Heigh,  ho!  and  away  we  go, 

To  the  golden  shore  of  San  'Frisco. 

Heigh  ho!  and  away  we  go, 

To  dig  up  the  gold  at  Sacramento. 

We've  formed  our  band  and  our  trip  is  planned, 
To  journey  far  to  that  promised  land, 
For  the  golden  ore  is  now  in  store, 
On  the  banks  of  Sacramento's  shore. 

Heigh,  ho!— -etc. 

With  pick  and  shovel  and  iron  bar, 
We'll  probe  the  hills  in  that  land  afar; 
We'll  dig  all  day  with  all  our  might. 
And  weary  not  till  the  stars  are  bright. 

Heigh,  ho! — etc. 

We'll  make  our  beds  on  the  cold  wet  ground, 
And  when  the  wolves  come  a-howling  'round, 
We'll  give  them  a  shot  from  our  rifles  true. 
And  we'll  bring  their  pelts  back  home  to  you. 

Heigh,  ho! — etc. 

Oh,  soon  afar,  on  that  shining  shore, 
We'll  turn  the  sands  for  the  golden  ore; 
We'll  work  with  a  will  and  all  our  pull. 
And  we'll  come  back  with  our  pockets  full. 

Heigh,  ho! — etc. 

Among  those  who  heard  and  heeded  the  call  to  that  "shining 
shore,"  were  the  following  from  Wilbraham: 

James  Merrick,  Samuel  F.  Merrick,  Pliny  K.  Merrick,  D. 
Brainard  Merrick,  Erasmus  B.  Gates,  Myron  Brewer,  Reuben 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  303 

Jones,  Walter  Hitchcock,  George  McGregory,  Franklin  Steb- 
bins,  Darwin  Chafife,  Carson  Cone,  Charles  Hancock,  Gilbert 
Stacy,  John  Bradway,  Otis  Lincoln,  Joseph  Baldwin.  Perhaps 
a  few  others,  whose  names  I  have  not  learned.  I  have  learned 
some  of  the  details  of  the  journey  there,  from  my  uncle, 
Horace  G.  Kibbe,  of  East  Longmeadow,  now  of  Sonora,  Cal. 
Most  of  them  went  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  The 
demand  for  passage  was  so  great  that  it  was  necessary  to 
secure  tickets  several  weeks  in  advance. 

The  fare  for  steerage  passengers  was  $200  from  New  York  to 
San  Francisco,  which  included  meals  while  on  shipboard.  Most 
of  the  men  walked  across  the  Isthmus,  their  baggage  being 
carried  on  pack  mules.  They  were  twelve  days  on  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  three  or  four  days  crossing  the  Isthmus,  and  were  seven 
days  sailing  up  the  Pacific  Ocean  to  San  Francisco. 

Nearly  all  of  those  whose  names  I  have  given  returned  to 
their  homes  here,  after  a  few  years.  I  heard  it  told  around  at 
the  time  that  S.  F.  Merrick  said  that  he  was  "going  to  show 
the  men  of  Wilbraham  how  to  build  a  bam."  The  stone  bam 
on  the  west  side  of  our  Main  Street,  some  20  or  40  rods  north 
of  the  Tinkham  Road,  is  the  result  of  his  efforts.  It  was  an 
ambitious  undertaking. 

Not  all  of  the  men  who  felt  the  call  of  the  "golden  lure," 
travelled  as  far  as  California,  In  their  search  for  it.  About  the 
time  of  the  California  excitement,  there  were  persistent  rumors 
in  many  of  our  New  England  towns  that  some  of  "Captain 
Kidd's  gold"  was  buried  within  their  borders.  There  was  a 
man  here  who  "dreamed,"  or  conceived,  or  believed,  that 
some  of  it  was  hidden  on  the  top  of  our  mountain,  in  an  old 
cellar  hole,  a  little  east  of  the  Ridge  road  and  a  little  north  of 
the  road  to  Monson.  Two  or  three  others  became  interested  in 
the  subject,  and  for  several  nights  they  visited  the  place  and 
turned  the  sod,  the  soil  and  the  sands,  in  and  around  that  old 
cellar,  in  their  eager  search  for  the  buried  gold. 

During  all  the  digging,  not  a  word  must  be  spoken,  for  they 
believed  that  if  their  efforts  should  be  successful  and  the  iron 
case  containing  the  golden  treasure  should  be  uncovered,  and 


304  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

if  at  the  same  time  the  sound  of  a  human  voice  should  vex  the 
spirits  of  the  midnight  air,  the  object  of  their  quest  would  glide 
a  hundred  or  even  a  thousand  feet  down  into  the  bowels  of  the 
mountain  and  be  lost  to  them  forever.  A  boy  about  eight  or 
ten  years  old  learned  something  of  what  was  going  on,  and,  like 
many  other  boys,  he  wanted  to  know  more  about  it.  So  when 
the  men  gathered  with  their  picks  and  shovels  near  his  home, 
in  the  late  evening,  to  journey  to  the  abandoned  cellar,  he  fol- 
lowed on  after  them,  keeping  a  discreet  distance  in  the  rear, 
and  was  able  to  observe  their  operations.  He  survived  the 
experience  and  has  related  the  incident  to  me. 

FRATERNAL  ORGANIZATIONS 

A  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  under 
the  name  of  Freedom's  Guide  Lodge  No.  163,  I.  O.  of  G.  T. 
was  established  here  about  1866,  and  was  quite  successful  as  a 
social  organization  for  a  few  years,  holding  meetings  in  the 
vestry  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  doubtless  doing  some 
good  for  the  temperance  cause.  The  society  went  out  of  exist- 
ence about  1870. 

There  was  also  a  society  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  in  the 
centre,  and  one  at  North  Wilbraham,  a  little  later,  but  both 
have  ceased  holding  meetings.  And,  earlier  than  these,  there 
was  a  society  of  "  Know  Nothings  "  here.  But  we  know  nothing 
of  what  it  accomplished,  although  I  think  I  have  a  copy  of  its 
printed  ritual,  which  I  found  among  the  Wm.  W.  Merrick 
papers. 

THE  FREE  MASONS 

In  1870,  Rev.  Edward  Cooke,  D.D.,  and  eighteen  other 
Masons  in  Wilbraham,  were  granted  a  charter  for  Newton 
Lodge,  and  Brother  Cooke  was  elected  the  first  master. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Masons  of  Wilbraham  to  consider 
the  matter  of  forming  a  lodge  was  held  at  the  office  of  Dr. 
Stebbins  Foskit,  October  6,  1870.  Other  meetings  were  held 
there  and  at  the  office  of  Rev.  Dr.  Cooke,  principal  of  Wesleyan 
Academy.     The  first  meeting  in  the  present  lodge  rooms  was 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  305 

held  January  4,  1871.  The  charter  members  were:  Rev.  Dr. 
Edward  Cooke,  Dr.  S.  Foskit,  C.  G.  Robbins,  W.  H.  Day, 
J.  W.  Green,  J.  vS.  Morgan,  E.  Jones,  E.  B.  Newell.  W.  F. 
Morgan,  L.  J.  Potter,  W.  L.  Collins,  A.  Boothby,  C.  M.  Parker, 
W.  M.  Green,  W.  Kent,  D.  A.  Atchinson,  H.  H.  Calkins,  and 
W.  F.  Eaton.  About  one-half  of  the  charter  members  with- 
drew from  Hampden  Lodge  of  Springfield  to  form  Newton 
Lodge.  One  night  in  1875,  there  was  considerable  excitement 
in  Newton  Lodge,  caused  by  a  fire  in  the  bam  of  one  of  the 
charter  members,  Dr.  Foskit.  The  bam  was  near  the  lodge 
rooms  and  the  fire  threatened  to  spread  to  the  near-by  build- 
ings. About  forty  brothers  were  in  the  hall  at  the  time  and 
most  of  them  were  excused  at  once,  and  rendered  efficient 
service  in  putting  out  the  fire.  After  they  had  withdrawn,  the 
lodge  was  regularly  closed  in  form  with  only  the  traditional 
number  present. 

In  1891,  about  twenty-seven  of  the  members  withdrew  to 
form  Brigham  Lodge  of  Ludlow.  In  1894,  one  of  the  members 
of  Newton  Lodge  was  appointed  Grand  Lecturer  of  the  Grand 
Lodge,  and  served  for  seventeen  years,  visiting  the  lodges 
throughout  the  state  to  instruct  them  in  the  ritual.  He  de- 
clined a  reappointment  for  the  year  1911,  because  of  some 
historical  work  he  had  been  selected  to  do.  He  is  now,  (1914) 
Senior  Grand  Warden  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  Newton  Lodge 
has  now  about  55  members. 

THE  WILBRAHAM  GRANGE 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 

was  organized  in  1888,  and  for  about  twelve  years  held  their 
meetings  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Congregational  Church.  By  the 
kindness  and  munificence  of  Mrs.  Lucia  S.  Foskit,  the  present 
commodious  and  convenient  Grange  Hall  was  erected  in  1900, 
and  first  used  in  1901,  and  has  since  served  as  a  meeting  place 
for  the  order,  and  for  many  social  gatherings.  The  membership 
of  the  Grange  is  about  80. 

The  ladies  of  the  town  have  a  Studv  Club,  which  meets 


306 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


regularly  and  is  interested  in  questions  around  the  Wide,  Wide 
World. 

The    boys   have   a   serenade    "Band,"    which   is   sometimes 
heard  where  it  mav  not  be  desired,  or  welcomed. 


GRANGE  HALL. 


THE  WILBRAHAM  FARMERS'  CLUB 

This  society  was  formed  under  the  name  of  "The  Agricul- 
tural Lyceum  of  Wilbraham."  The  first  meeting  was  held  in 
the  basement  of  Fisk  Hall  on  December  22,  1854,  and  Nelson 
Mowry  was  elected  chairman  and  Henry  M.  Bliss  secretary. 
An  address  was  given  by  Prof.  Oliver  Marcy,  a  teacher  at  the 
Academy,  and  Horace  M.  Sessions,  of  South  Wilbraham,  spoke 
on  the  subject  of  peach  growing.  In  1861,  the  name  was 
changed  to  Wilbraham  Farmers'  Club,  and  quite  regular  meet- 
ings were  held  at  the  homes  of  different  members,  and  occa- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  307 

sionally  at  one  of  the  churches,  until  about  the  year  1900. 
The  secretary,  Henry  M.  Bliss,  was  statistical  correspondent 
for  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  for  many  years. 

A  YOUNG  PEOPLES'  LITERARY  SOCIETY 

Was  formed  in  the  Centre  village  about  1870,  and  gave  a 
drama,  or  an  entertainment  of  that  character,  nearly  every 
year,  for  about  twenty-five  years.  The  first  was  a  selection 
from  the  poem  written  by  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland,  entitled  "Bitter 
Sweet."  in  1870. 

One  of  the  most  popular  was  the  "  District  School,"  given  in 
1892,  and  as  the  mention  of  it  brings  to  mind  so  many  familiar 
names  and  interesting  incidents,  I  give  a  copy  of  the  program. 

Y^  STONY  HILL 


DEESTRICT   SKULE 

WILL    BE    AT 

Y^  Chapel  of  Y*"  Congregation  Meeting  House 

ON  YE  MAIN  RODE 

Near  Ye  Allis  Tavern  in  ye  Towne  of  Wilbraham 

Y^   23^^   Day  of   March,    MDCCCXCII 

Ye  Master  of  ye  Skule  House  with  ye  Children  of  ye  Deestrict,  will  open 
ye  doors  and  commence  to  reade  and  spell  their  lessons  at  half  past  seven 
by  ye  Towne  Clock.  Ye  good  people  of  ye  big  Towne  will  please  get  ye 
chores  done  earlie  and  put  on  ye  Meeting  Clothes  so  as  not  to  be  late. 
Ye  Young  Men  and  Maidens  will  want  to  heare  these  lessons  and  see  how 
ye  children  are  getting  their  Eddication. 

Ye  price  to  go  inne  is  two  Dimes  and  a  half  Dime. 

Parte  First. 
Ye  Towne  Skule  Committee  will  meete  Mr.  Jabes  Epaphroditus  Quacken- 
bush,  and  see  if  he  has  larning  enough  to  teach  Ye  Younge  Men  and  ye 
Maidens  of  ye  Stony  Hill  Deestrict. 

Parte  Seconde. 
Ye  Schollares  in  all  ye  Deestrict  of  Stony  Hill  will  begin  to  larn  their 
A  B  C's,  also  to  figger  and  rite,  and  get  an  eddication  such  as  was  never 
seen  in  the  Deestrict  skule  on  Stony  Hill. 

Parte  Third. 
Ye  examination  of  ye  skule   will  be  held,   showing  what  larning  and 
eddication  will  do  for  our  Younge  Folke,  so  that  every  Farm  House  in  ye 


308  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

deestrict  even  to  ye  big  Townes  of  Ludlow,  Monson,  South  Wilbraham  and 
Longmeader  will  heare  of  these  wonderful  things. 

Ye  Skule  Committee 

Squire  Isaac  Skinnum  C.  C.  Beebe 

Rev.  Abinidab  Twistem  C.  E.  Peck 

Deacon  Ichabod  JoUyboy  A.  J.  Blanchard 

Ye  Teacher 

Mr.  Jabes  Epaphroditus  Quackenbush  F.  E.  Clark 

Ye  Schollares 

Phebe  Ann  Higgins  Mrs.  C.  M.  Pease. 

Peggy  Pinchbeck  Warriner  Mrs.  F.  W.  Green 

Tirza  Mehitable  Thorp  Mrs.  Wm.  R.  Sessions 

Lucretia  Arcetta  Ladybelle  Burt  Miss  E.  M.  Howard 

Silence  Samantha  Langdon  Mrs.  C.  P.  Bolles 

Thankful  Deborah  Bliss  Mrs.  F.  C.  Learned 

Mehitable  Maria  Merrick  Mrs.  W.  L.  Phelps 

Prudence  Priscilla  Patience  Jackson  Miss  Ida  L.  Bolles 

Experience  Delight  Sawtelle  Mrs.  L.  B.  Smith 

Betsy  Jane  Livermore  Mrs.  D.  L.  Bosworth 

Jemima  Virginia  Piper  Miss  Clara  McKeeman 

Roxalena  Smith  Miss  M.  E.  Bliss 

Phebe  Ann  Sunlight  Mulbury  Miss  Lillie  Phelps 

Oliver  Jedediah  Adams  Anson  Soule 

Peletiah  Abial  Glover  Ethelbert  Bliss 

Silas  Doolittle  Phelps  Leroy  B.  Smith 

Zenas  Erastus  Brocket  Wm.  H.  Day 

Obadiah  Higgins  C.  P.  Bolles 

Daniel  Hosea  Baldwin  N.  C.  Rice 

Solomon  Ichabod  Jones  Arthur  Stebbins 

Patsie  Moriety  H.  E.  Clark 

George  Washington  Tarbox  Theodore  Bottome 

James  Buchanan  Jackson  Bert  Eaton 

Caleb  Spindleshanks  Brewer  H.  A.  Day 


THE  WOODLAND  DELL  CEMETERY 

This  is  very  pleasantly  located,  near  and  east  of  the  Center 
Village.  The  grounds  now  occupied  by  this  association,  con- 
taining ten  and  a  half  acres,  were  first  purchased  by  R.  R. 
Wright,  H.  Bridgman  Brewer  and  J.  M.  Merrick,  at  the  cost 
of  eleven  hundred  dollars. 

The  association  was  organized  under  the  General  Statutes, 
Febrtiary  12,  1858. 

A  board  of  trustees,  nine  in  number,  are  chosen  annually, 
who  have  the  care  of  the  property. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  309 

The  first  burial  in  these  grounds  was  Mrs.  Louisa  W. 
Wright,  the  wife  of  R.  R.  Wright,  who  died  December  26, 
1851. 

The  officers  are,  Chauncey  E.  Peck,  president;  Charles  N. 
Mawry,  vice-president;  Frank  A.  Gumey,  treasurer;  Carrie 
A.  Moody,  secretary.  184  lots  have  been  sold  up  to  the  present 
time. 

SLAVERY  IN  WILBRAHAM 

From  what  I  can  gather  from  old  records  and  traditions, 
there  were  at  least  five  families  who  owned  eight  or  more  slaves 
in  Wilbraham  along  about  the  years  1745  to  1780.  The 
"Worthy"  Rev.  Noah  Merrick  had  three,  Mr.  David  Merrick 
had  one,  and  Capt.  John  Shaw  had  one.  There  were  probably 
a  few  more.  The  slaves  of  the  Rev.  Noah  Merrick  are  supposed 
to  have  been  inherited  by  his  wife,  from  her  father's  estate  in 
Haddam,  Conn.  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Merrick  had  two,  but  they 
may  have  come  to  him  from  the  estate  of  his  father  (Rev.  Noah 
Merrick.) 

There  is  a  strange  and  almost  tragic  incident  in  connection 
with  those  slaves  of  Dr.  Merrick,  which  has  been  told  me  by 
members  of  the  family  and,  while  I  have  clothed  the  story  in 
language  of  my  own,  I  have  endeavored  to  give  a  description  of 
it  which  will  convey  a  true  idea  of  the  incident,  and  still  con- 
form to  the  truth,  as  regards  the  principal  event. 

The  names  of  Dr.  Merrick's  slaves  were  Luke  and  Luc 
(Lucy).  Luc  was  a  plump,  kind-hearted  creature,  of  the  good 
old  negro  mammy  character,  and  assisted  in  the  household 
duties.  Luke  was  generally  of  the  same  kindly  disposition  and 
very  valuable  as  a  worker  on  the  farm.  But  he  had  a  most 
violent  temper,  and  when  crossed  in  his  wishes,  or  sometimes 
without  any  apparent  cause,  he  would  fly  into  a  dreadful  pas- 
sion, showing  no  more  reason  than  a  wild  beast.  In  an  hour 
or  two  the  fit  would  pass  off,  the  sunshine  in  his  heart  would 
assert  itself,  and  he  was  kindly  and  genial  as  usual. 

When  in  one  of  these  moods  he  would  throw  the  chairs  or 
other  furniture  about  the  kitchen,  sometimes  doing  considerable 


310  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

damage.    If  out  of  doors  or  at  the  barn,  the  farming  tools  were 
served  in  the  same  manner. 

When  one  of  these  "tant-trums,"  as  Luc  called  them,  came 
on  him,  and  the  men  folks  were  all  away,  the  women  of  the 
family  would  usually  manage  to  coax  him  out  of  the  house, 
lock  the  doors  and  let  Luke  wear  away  his  "tant-trum"  by 
throwing  himself  against  the  trees  or  buildings,  in  an  insane 
fury. 

On  a  day  when  the  men  folks  were  all  away,  perhaps  haying 
in  a  distant  meadow,  Luke  was  sent  up  to  the  house  to  fetch 
some  water.  Luc  was  sweeping  out  the  kitchen  and,  for  the 
moment,  had  set  a  chair  in  the  doorway.  Luke  sprang  at  the 
chair,  insane  with  passion,  and  flung  it  far  out  in  the  yard,  but 
Luc  slammed  the  door  in  his  face  and  locked  it.  All  the  other 
doors  were  quickly  locked  and  Luke  drifted  away  toward  the 
bam,  venting  his  spite  upon  everything  that  came  in  his 
way. 

The  time  for  the  mid-day  meal  was  approaching  and  Mrs. 
Merrick  went  into  the  pantry  to  select  the  materials.  While 
looking  among  the  shelves,  with  her  back  toward  the  open 
window,  she  heard  a  noise  in  that  direction  and  turning  around, 
she  saw  the  passion  distorted  face  of  Luke  at  the  window,  with 
his  hand  resting  on  the  shelf  within,  as  if  he  were  about  to 
spring  in.  Screaming  with  fright  she  ran  out  into  the  kitchen, 
where  she  was  comforted  by  the  faithful  Luc. 

Dinner  may  have  been  late  that  day  and — perhaps — Luke 
didn't  have  any. 

A  baby  girl,  born  in  that  famih-  some  months  later,  bore 
upon  her  breast  the  mark  of  a  broad  black  hand. 

When  the  state  constitution  prohibiting  slavery  was  enacted 
about  the  year  1780,  it  is  said  that  some  of  those  slaves  were 
invited  to  accompany  "Massa"  on  a  visit  to  Hartford,  and 
were  privately  sold  and  invited  to  go  on  board  a  sloop  lying  at 
the  wharf,  to  have  a  good  time,  and  while  fiddling  and  dancing, 
the  sloop  dropped  into  the  stream,  spread  sail,  and  disappeared 
down  the  river.     They  were  never  heard  of  again. 

Senator  Hoar's  wife  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  families 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  311 

which  is  said  to  have  disposed  of  their  slaves  in  that  way,  but 
they  ahvays  most  emphatically  denied  that  they  were  sold. 

The  phrase,  "Underground  Railroad,"  is  rarely  heard  in 
these  days,  and  may  be  meaningless  to  many  persons  now. 
But  fifty  to  one  hundred  years  ago  it  was  carefully  whispered 
around  that  there  were  in  many  towns  certain  havens  of 
refuge,  where  the  escaped  fugitive  slave  from  the  Southland, 
seeking  for  a  home  of  freedom  in  far-off  Canada,  might  find  a 
hiding  place  from  the  hunters  ]3ursuing  their  human  prey  across 
the  states.  And  when  the  hunters,  hot  on  the  trail,  had  coine 
and  passed  on,  and  the  shadows  of  night  had  fallen  over  the 
earth,  the  shrinking  fugitive  would  be  taken  in  a  team,  or 
might  be  directed  to  another  place,  ten  to  twenty  miles  away, 
where  he  would  find  shelter  and  a  hiding  place  from  the  officers 
of  the  law. 

It  was  an  unlawful  thing  to  do,  but  then,  as  now,  there  pre- 
vailed in  the  hearts  of  men  an  unwritten  law,  far  above  the 
decrees  of  courts,  or  the  enactments  of  legislatures;  and  it  is  a 
well  established  fact  that  the  fleeing  fugitive  slaves  were 
sometimes  helped  in  that  way. 

A  house  in  our  center  village,  directly  across  the  street  from 
the  one  in  which  I  reside,  was  torn  down  about  1907,  when  it 
was  discovered  that  there  were  two  cellars  under  it.  One  of 
them  was  quite  small,  entirely  separate  from  the  other  and 
larger  one,  and  entered  by  a  trap  door  in  the  pantry.  The 
story  quickly  spread  that  the  house  had  been  a  "station"  on 
the  "Underground  Railroad." 

I  boarded  in  that  house  during  the  winter  and  spring  of  1871 
and  1872,  and  did  not  know  of  that  small  cellar. 

The  house  was  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Mr.  Virgin  for 
several  years,  about  1838,  and  when  the  report  of  the  "Station" 
was  being  circulated,  I  wrote  to  his  son,  also  a  clergyman,  to 
learn  if  the  story  could  be  verified,  but  he  answered  that  he 
"would  neither  confirm  or  deny  it,"  but  he  knew  that  in  those 
days,  if  anyone  in  want,  whether  it  was  a  homesick  student, 
seeking  for  a  shelter,  in  whom  there  might  be  the  making  of  a 
Methodist  bishop,   or  a  fugitive  slave  fleeing  from  the  man 


312  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

hunters,  with  his  face  set  toward  the  promised  land  of  freedom, 
"Mother"  Virgin,  as  she  was  familiarly  called,  would  not  have 
turned  him  empty  away. 

More  than  one  embryo  Methodist  preacher,  presiding  elder 
or  bishop,  found  a  motherly,  welcoming  woman  in  what  was 
then  called  the  "Virgin  Hollow  Hotel,"  and  it  is  quite  within 
the  bounds  of  probability  that  some  hunted  fugitive  slaves 
may  have  been  hidden  there  for  a  time.  A  severe  struggle  once 
took  place  at  Mr.  Edward  Morris's,  where  two  fugitives  had 
taken  refuge.  Their  masters  or  hunters  came  after  them,  and  a 
fight  ensued,  in  which  one  escaped  to  the  woods,  and  the  other 
was  taken,  bound,  and  carried  away.  I  have  no  knowledge  that 
any  assistance  was  ever  rendered  to  the  hunter  when  he  sought 
his  human  prey. 

The  following,  relating  to  some  of  those  slaves,  is  copied 
from  the  record  kept  by  (Clark)  Samuel  Warner,  1734-1783. 

"Meneder  (?)  a  Neegrow  girl  of  the  R"  Mr.  Noah  Mirrick'* 
Dyed  March  20'^"  1774." 

"Joseph  Coat  a  Negrow  man  Dyed  Januarey  15'^  1782." 
"Joshua  Ede  (?)  Lost  a  Black  Child  January  y""  1782." 

FRAGMENTS  GATHERED  FROM  VARIOUS  SOURCES 

In  1837,  Delos  D.  Merrick  of  this  town  attended  the  Medical 
School  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  The  following  is  part  of  a  letter 
written  to  his  brother,  William  W.  Merrick. 

"Pittsfield  Oct.  1837 
"Dear  Brother  Last  sabbath  I  took  a  walk  out  to  the  Lebanon  Shakers, 
having  heard  much  in  regard  to  their  late  mode  of  worship,  and  for  the 
first  time  was  out  of  New  England,  it  being  just  over  the  line  in  the  state 
of  New  York,  and  certainly  it  is  very  mountainous  as  we  go  west  from  this 
towards  Albany.  The  proceedings  of  the  Shakers  during  their  services 
were  truly  rediculous.  They  conducted  themselves  very  much  as  they 
do  at  enfield  for  nearly  one  half  hour  then  throwing  aside  all  decency  cut 
all  manner  of  shines  that  you  could  imagine.  Turning  upon  their  heels 
until  so  dizzy  that  some  even  fell  upon  the  floor  &  others  would  have  fallen 
had  not  they  been  so  thick  as  to  hit  some  one  as  they  were  falling.  One 
woman  turned  upon  her  heel  84  times  without  stopping  &  another  100 
checking  herself  for  about  a  minute  when  she  had  got  50  turns  accom- 
plished. They  would  all  spat  their  hands  stamp  their  feet  &  hallow  at  the 
same  time.  Oh !  what  a  noise.  You  imagine  220  making  as  much  noise  as 
possible  &  you  think  what  we  had.    They  acted  precisely  like  crazy  people. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  313 

One  would  start  from  one  end  of  the  house  and  run  around  in  a  ring  turn- 
ing her  hands  about  her  head  &  like  lightening  go  around  5  or  6  times 
cutting  as  large  circle  as  the  house  would  allow.  Another  bending  back- 
wards &  forwards  as  far  as  possible  &  not  fall.  I  declare  I  expected  every 
moment  to  see  them  tumble  flat.  Another  would  run  and  take  hold  of 
some  one  and  both  would  wheel  about  2  or  3  times  and  then  run  to  another 
and  perform  just  so  again  until  he  had  gone  to  10  or  12  &  then  he  would 
leap  up  &  down  &  spat  his  hands.  They  had  one  girl  probably  just  joined 
them,  I  was  pleased  to  see  her  trudge  about.  She  could  not  begin  to  keep 
up  &  when  they  moved  their  hands  up  &  down,  as  you  have  seen  them  at 
E.  they  would  get  hold  of  hers  &  help  the  poor  thing.  They  also  had  a 
very  noble  looking  man  about  28  years  of  age  I  should  think,  he  had  not 
taken  off  his  velvet  vest  &  broadcloth  pants,  but  he  beat  the  Shakers 
themselves.  He  would  cut  around  like  the  mischief.  He  would  hug  one 
and  kiss  him  then  another  &  and  so  on,  &  I'll  be  bound  he  got  hold  of  a 
bluberliped  negro.  How  sweet.  I  saw  him  upon  the  floor  at  length  &  I 
concluded  that  the  fellow  had  got  the  apoplexy  from  his  exercise  &  almost 
begun  to  feel  for  my  lanech.  But  in  a  few  minutes  up  he  hopped  and  at  it 
again.  I  wonder  the  men  and  women  did  not  hug  &  kiss  each  other  But 
I  never  saw  a  bit  of  the  thing.  No  sport  in  this.  I  should  have  made  a 
mistake  and  kissed  a  young  girl  for  they  had  2  or  3  very  pretty  looking 
girls.  Perhaps  you  may  think  I  exagerate  the  proceedings.  N:  I  fall  far 
short  of  it.  You  can  have  scarcely  any  idea  of  their  conduct.  They  do 
more  injury  to  their  health  in  an  hour  this  way  than  a  months  hard  work, 
for  what  is  like  getting  drunk  by  turning  and  tumbling  about  thus." 

In  1837  or  1838,  Antoinette  C.  M.  Bliss,  went  to  Louisiana 
to  visit  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Susan  (Brewer)  Thomas.  Susan  Brewer 
was  daughter  of  Charles  Brewer  of  this  town.  She  was  the 
second  Preceptress  of  Wesley  an  Academy,  1827-1829,  and 
married  Capt.  David  Thomas  of  Louisiana  in  1834.  About 
1838,  her  niece,  Antoinette  CM.  Bliss  (afterwards  Mrs.  Speer) 
made  Mrs.  Thomas  a  visit.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  part  of 
a  letter  she  wrote  to  her  aunt  (Mrs.  Thomas  Merrick)  of  this 
town. 

"Cottage  Hall,  Jackson  La. 

"Feb.  8'h  1838. 

"I  have  just  been  out  in  the  ironing  house  and  it  is  a  real 
curiousity.  4  nursing  babes  and  8  others  from  creeping  up  to 
3  or  4  yrs  of  age.  I  dont  know  what  will  be  when  summer 
comes;  6  cradles,  and  they  make  the  larger  ones  rock  the  least 
now.  No  one  need  to  say,  but  that  uncles  niggers  have  an 
easy  time." 

THE  WARNER  PAPERS 

I  have  made  the  following  copies  from  a  collection  of  about 
a    thousand    old    papers    and    letters,    formerly    belonging    to 


314  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

("Clark")  Samuel  Warner,  and  his  son,  James  Warner,  now  in 
possession  of  Edward  P.  Chapin,  97  Spring  Street,  Spring- 
field, Mass. 

James  Warner  was  conductor  of  the  mail  stage  between 
Boston  and  New  York  for  a  few  years,  about  1790.  The  stage 
line  was  owned  by  Pease  &  Sikes. 

On  back  of  old  Deed : 

"A  Recight  to  make  a  good  ointement  for  Bruses  and  maney 
Sorts  of  Lamenes — Vis.  take  spear  mint  and  mutton  tallow 
Simer  them  togather  till  Looks  green  then  as  much  Beas  Wax 
as  tallow  and  as  much  Rosam  as  Each  of  the  others  and  Simer 
them  well.  Set  it  by  till  it  is  as  Cold  so  you  may  have  your 
finger  in  it  then  poor  in  Rum  and  Stir  it  to  gather  till  it  is 
Could. 


"Take  Spere  mint  &  mutten  taller  Bees  wax  Rossom  Rum 
as  much  of  one  as  the  other." 


"Boston  Mar  3^d  1790 
Re'=^  of  John  Templeman 

One  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  in  old  Continental  money, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty  one  Dollars  in  New  York  new  issue  ? 
Money  and  Twenty  Dollars  in  Pensilvania  Do.  Five  Dollars 
New  Jersey  Do.  All  of  which  I  promise  to  deliver  to  Mr 
Ebenezer  Thayer  in  New  York." 

(Name  torn  off.) 

"Hartford  7"^  Feb>-  1790 

Rec''  from  Amor  Bull  24  peices  of  Gold  weight  135  dw^  which 
I  promise  to  deliver  Mr  James  Cummings  No.  1  William  Street 
New  York  immediately  on  my  arrival  next  Wednesday 

signed     James  Warner." 
(But  most  of  the  name  torn  off.) 

"  New  York  June  P'  1790 

Received  of  Prosper  Wetmore  a  ticket  in  the  second  Class  of 
Massachusetts  State  Lottery  No.  2865  which  has  drawn  a 
prize  of  one  Hundred  Dollars,  which  I  promise  to  receive,  and 
bring  on  to  said  P.  Wetmore  or  return  the  ticket,  to  receive  for 
my  trouble  one  per  Cent  commission 

James  Wanier" 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  315 

"Rec^  of  Norman  Butler  one  small  tied  Bundle  said  to  con- 
tain Two  South  Carolina  State  Notes  amounting  to  One  Hun- 
dred fifty  five  pounds  11-s  Sterling  which  Bundle  is  directed 
to  Daniel  Pomfret  Merchant  Water  Street  New  York  and 
which  I  am  to  deliver  S'^  Pomfret  on  my  arrival  in  New  York 
with  the  next  mail.     Hartford  6'^  Sep.   1790,  for  Levi  Pease. 

James  Warner." 

(About  90  receipts  similar  to  these  four,  given  by  James 
Warner  as  conductor  of  the  mail  in  1790.) 

Copy  of  Act  of  Legislature  about  1745: 

"Be  it  enacted  &c  that  Whenever  aney  Dog  Shall  Kill  or 
Wound  aney  Sheep  and  proof  Be  made  there  of  Before  aney  of 
his  magistes  Justes  of  y"^  pees  for  the  County  whare  such  Damig 
is  Don  y''  S'^)  Justis  is  Reg  spedily  to  Notify  y*"  oner  of  S'^  Dog 
of  such  Damig  and  if  y*=  Dog  be  not  Kill^  within  48  ours  after 
such  notis  given  y*"  oner  shall  forfit  y^  sum  of  five  pounds  to  be 
recovered." 

"ReC^    Wilbraham  April    14">     1774   of   James   Warner   his 
promissory  note  of  hand  for  the  sum  of  £6.  18s.  when  paid,  in 
full  for  my  services  in  teaching  a  Singing  School  the  Winter 
past  also  for  the  Bass  Viol  which  I  made  in  that  time. 
Witness  my  hand     George  Allen." 

Among  the  papers  of  James  Warner  I  found  the  following, 
which  is  so  quaint  and  peculiar  that  it  seems  worth  preserving. 

JAMES  WARNER'S   "DREAM" 

When  Sol  from  high  meridian  had  finish**  his  carear 
A  Lively  semicircle  in  the  West  then  did  appear 
With  a  dark  shady  mantle  the  Globe  all  round  was  drest 
And  over  the  Blue  Canopy  the  Stars  were  interspersed 


Strait  unto  my  Chamber  then  instantly  I  Came 

Leaning  down  upon  my  Bed  I  fell  into  a  dream 

I  thought  four  men  in  ancient  Dress  presented  me  a  hand 

They  told  me  I  might  admittance  find  By  the  order  of  S^  John 


They  told  me  the  four  Brethering  wear  &  from  Jeraslam  came 
In  Solomans  time  the  porters  ware  all  round  the  temple  of  fame 
there  was  Solam  Highman  &  acib  their  names  I  did  enquire 
and  talman  a  So  Jorner  wear  and  came  from  mount  Moria 


316  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

They  ordered  me  for  to  Repair  all  with  a  Cemely  Grace 
Unto  the  mount  of  Horab  to  view  that  holy  place 
Talman  he  Gave  orders  &  bid  me  not  refuse 
Upon  that  holy  mountain  for  to  take  off  my  shoes 


Then  to  the  Mount  moriah  Side  a  pilgrim  I  did  Repair 
With  Cherubims  &  palm  trees  the  walls  all  Cover^  wear 
When  in  a  trembleing  poister  I  knocked  at  a  door — 
Resolvd  if  I  admittance  found  to  See  the  thrashing  floor- 


But  orders  from  the  alter  Came  for  to  Examin  me 

Upon  A  point  I  Entered  &  Being  Born  free 

I  heard  a  Noise  come  from  the  East  which  made  a  glorious  sound 

Then  from  my  eyes  a  soit  did  drop  &  soon  a  light  I  found 


What  glorious  things  I  then  did  see  I  mean  for  to  Conceal 
To  none  But  such  as  I  am  I  Ever  will  Reveal 
I  then  Got  orders  for  to  proceed  &  leave  that  holy  mountain 
Straitway  I  was  Conducted  Back  to  Jordons  Christal  fountain 


Over  Jordans  Stream  we  passed  as  I  must  tell  you  true 

Of  Ephramites  at  once  they  fell  thousands  forty  two 

Yet  I  was  Resolv^  once  more  to  See  moriahs  holy  Ground 

When  I  came  there  such  Raps  I  gave  as  made  the  solemn  sound 


Then  Back  to  Enochs  Building  to  view  that  Lovely  town- 
He  was  a  son  to  Lamach  a  Craft  of  high  Renown — 
I  understand  you  are  a  Craft  By  what  you  tell  to  me 
And  finer  in  mettle  you  are  Skil<i  so  you  may  Enter  free 


Then  to  the  East  of  Eden  to  view  that  holy  ground — 
You  was  a  son  Lamach  A  Craft  of  high  Renown — 
Of  him  I  friendship  found  I  thought  myself  secure — 
And  a  master  Builder  I  was  made  on  arons  threshing  floor 


All  round  the  Pallies  I  was  Brought  to  wisdoms  temple  door 
Conducted  I  was  to  the  East  of  Aarons  threshing  floor — • 
Five  noble  orders  I  was  taught  all  round  this  temple  of  fame 
Sudenly  I  then  awoke  &  found  it  was  a  dream — 

the  end 

James  Warner 
Wilbraham      S      O       M 

This  "dream"  was  probably  written  about  1790, .as  it  was 
with  papers  of  that  date.  What  meaning  the  letters,  "S  O  M," 
were  intended  to  convey,  I  am  not  able  to  tell.  They  may 
have  meant,  Son  Of  Massachusetts.  But,  considering  the 
scenes,  and  the  characters  presented,  it  is  more  likely  they 
meant.  Son  Of  Moriah,  or.  Son  Of  Melchizedek,  or  any  other 
of  many  titles  which  ma}-  be  imagined. 


A  RELIC  OF  STAGECOACH  DAYS. 


318  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

DIARY  OF  JANE  RINDGE 

I  have  had  an  opportunity  to  read  that  diary,  and  as  it  illus- 
trates the  difference  in  the  methods  of  travel,  then  and  now, 
I  insert  a  few  lines. 

"July  16,  1838,  Commenced  a  short  Tour  to  New  York  and 
Philadelphia. 

"Left  Springfield  in  the  Steam  Boat  Agawam  with  a  pleasant 
company  on  board  most  of  whom  were  strangers.  .  .  .  When 
at  Ware  House  point  there  were  four  more  added  to  our  little 
company  one  of  which  we  Judged  to  be  an  Episcopal  Minister. 
....  Arrived  at  Hartford  about  eleven  ....  put  up  at 
Treat's  the  Temperance  House.  .  .  .  Visited  Charter  Oak 
memorable  for  depositing  the  British  Charter  in  the  trunk  at 
the  time  of  the  British,  (visited  friends  in  Hartford). 

"July  l?"^*"  Rose  at  5.  o. clock — we  went  aboard  at  six. — 
reached  the  Sound  between  ten  and  twelve  o  clock.  .  .  . 
Reached  New  York  about  six  at  eve.  .  .  .  July  19,  left  New 
York  at  6  in  the  morning  for  Philadelphia  in  the  Steamer  P. — 
to  Amboy  where  we  left  the  boat  took  the  Cars  to  Bumington, 
then  took  the  Steamer  Philadelphia  on  the  Deleware  river, 
landed  at  Philadelphia  about  two." 

In  1842,  she  made  another  trip  to  New  York,  returning  home 
on  September  31st.  She  closes  the  account  of  this  last  trip  as 
follows : 

"Thus  endeth  the  last  visit  J.  Rindge  will  ever  make  N. 
York." 


(She  married  Earl  Trumbul  of  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.  a  few  weeks 
later.) 

THE  TOLL  GATE  ON  THE  BOSTON  ROAD 

As  near  as  I  can  learn,  the  toll  gate  was  located  on  the  hill 
east  of  Eleven  Mile  Brook  (sometimes  called  twelve  mile),  and 
about  four  rods  west  of  where  the  present  road  (which  I  have 
called  East  Street),  leaves  the  Boston  Road,  and  runs  b>'  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  319 

underpass,  beneath  the  railroad.  It  was  probably  established 
about  1814,  and  discontinued  about  1847.  Adna  Bishop  was 
gate  keeper  for  several  years,  beginning  about  1831.  His  house 
was  on  the  north  side  of  the  Boston  road,  near  the  bam  which 
has  passed  its  usefulness  and  is  now  fallen  into  ruins.  I  have 
been  told  that  this  bam  was  first  erected  in  Holyoke,  and  after 
doing  some  service  there,  was  taken  down,  brought  on  sleds  in 
the  winter  time  and  re-erected  here.  A  daughter  of  Adna 
Bishop  married  Albert  Bliss,  and  she  told  her  son,  Ethelbert 
Bliss,  about  the  location. 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Gates,  who  celebrated  his  ninety-first  birth- 
day last  March,  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  this  vicinity  and 
remembers  the  location.  Also,  Henry  M.  Bliss,  who  remembers 
that  the  charge  for  a  single  team  was  a  "fo-pence,  ha  penny," 
(nine  cents). 

Rev.  Mr.  Gates  contributes  the  following  lines,  which  help 
to  make  vivid  the  situation. 

"  The  Old  Turnpike  Gate, 
Long  have  I  stood  there  to  wait 
For  change,  in  rainstorm  or  snow. 
Gladly  felt  I  to  see  it  go." 

THE  WILBRAHAM  TURNPIKE 

Among  the  papers  left  by  Abel  Bliss,  Jr.,  now  in  possession 
of  his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Sarah  (Bliss)  Gillet,  I  have  found  a 
copy  of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  1820,  which  I  have  con- 
densed slightly. 

"Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
"An  Act  to  establish  the  Wilbraham  Turnpike. 
"Be  it  enacted  ....  that  Abel  Bliss  Junior,  William 
Clark,  Aaron  Woodward,  John  Adams  Junior,  Ebenezer  R. 
Wamer,  Moses  Burt,  Pynchon  Bliss  and  John  Glover  (with 
others  who  may  associate  with  them,  etc.),  are  hereby  made  a 
Corporation  for  making  a  Turnpike  Road  through  Wilbraham, 
to  the  line  between  this  State  and  Connecticut,  beginning  at 
the  west  end  of  the  First  Massachusetts  Turnpike,  and  extend- 


320  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

ing  thence,  in  a  southerly  course,  through  Wilbraham  Street, 
near  to  the  house  of  John  Adams  Jun"",  in  said  Wilbraham; 
thence  south,  about  twenty  eight  degrees  west,  or  generally  in 
that  direction,  as  shall  be  found  by  the  Committee  appointed 
to  mark  said  Turnpike  Road,  in  the  most  convenient  place  for 
the  public,  through  said  Wilbraham  and  a  part  of  Longmeadow, 
to  the  line  between  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut, in  a  direction  for  the  house  of  Calvin  Hall,  in  Somers, 
....  Shall  have  the  powers  and  privilegs,  and  subject  to  all 
duties  &c,  contained  in  an  Act  passed  March  16"*  1805. 

"Provided  however,  that  the  said  Turnpike  Road,  from  the 
First  Massachusetts  Turnpike,  to  the  house  of  John  Adams 
Jun^  may  be  only  three  rods  in  width:  ....  If  they  neglect 
to  complete  the  road  for  the  space  of  five  years,  the  Act  to  be 
void. 

"Approved  by  the  Governor  June  IG"*  1820. 

"A  true  copy  Attest    Alden  Bradford 

"Sec^.  of  Common'*"" 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  part  of  the  "First  Massachu- 
setts Turnpike"  was  in  Wilbraham.  Probably  the  west  end  of 
it  was  near  the  present  railroad  station  at  North  Wilbraham. 
(Probably  nothing  was  done  to  build  the  "Wilbraham  Turn- 
pike.") 

A  STRANGE  ACCIDENT 

The  death  of  Charles  Brewer,  Jr.,  on  September  28,  1853, 
may  be  classed  as  remarkable. 

He  was  the  son  of  Charles  Brewer,  and  grandfather  of  Charles 
A.  Brewer,  now  living  in  Wilbraham.  He  lived  in  the  first 
house  south  of  the  first  Methodist  meeting  house,  in  the  house 
now  owned  by  F.  A.  Gurney.  The  accident  happened  about 
100  rods  east  of  our  Main  Street,  in  the  cart-path  which  leads 
off  from  the  road  running  up  the  mountain,  south  of  the  stone 
church.  I  heard  the  story  at  the  time,  substantially  as  follows: 
There  is  a  very  steep  pitch  in  the  cart-path  just  beyond  the 
stone  wall,  and  Mr.  Brewer  was  coming  down  the  path  with 
his  horse  and  wagon.  He  tmhitched  the  horse  from  the  wagon, 
took  hold  of  the  shafts  himself,  and  attempted  to  guide  the 
wagon  down  the  hill.     In  passing  through  the  bar- way,  near 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  321 

the  foot  of  the  hill,  he  was  pushed  against  the  post  on  the  south 
side,  and  one  of  the  shafts  pierced  entirely  through  his  body, 
near  the  chest. 

I  have  heard  the  account  told,  that  he  was  leading  the  horse 
down  the  hill  and  was  caught  against  the  bar-post  and  his  body 
pierced  by  the  shaft.  This  account  seems  more  likely  to  be  the 
way  the  accident  happened  than  the  other.  But  the  result 
was  the  same.  He  was  killed  there.  He  was  78  years  and  eight 
months  old,  and  it  seems  very  strange  that  he  should  have 
attempted  to  hold  the  wagon  back  himself,  and  much  more 
likely  that  he  was  leading  the  horse. 

He  was  buried  in  the  Woodland  Dell  Cemetery. 

His  widow,  "Aunt  Fanny  Brewer,"  as  she  was  called,  sur- 
vived him  many  years. 

DISPOSAL  OF  THE  POOR  IN  BYGONE  DAYS 
"  In  1821,  A  poor  Child  Betsy bound  out  to  John 


to  learn  the  art,  trade  or  mystery  of  housekeeping.  Her  master 
&  mistress  she  shall  faithfully  serve,  his  or  her  secrets  keep,  & 
his  or  her  lawful  commands  everywhere,  at  all  times  readily 
obey — at  cards,  dice  or  any  other  unlawful  game  she  shall  not 
play — nor  matrimony  contract,  during  the  's*^  term."  (Till 
she  was  18  years  old.) 

Jan.  6,  1833,  the  selectmen  agreed  to  pay  Samuel  Beebe 
$690.00  "to  care  for,  and  to  Bury  any  who  may  die,  all  the 
Paupers  of  Wilbraham  for  one  year." 

"Dec.  2°'^  1833,  Sold  to  Samuel  Beebe  the  Poor  of  the  town 
— by  Vendue  he  being  the  lowest  bidder  at  ten  hundred  and 
ninety  nine  Dollars  for  two  years  from  the  first  of  April  next." 

FRAGMENTS 

(Copied  from  the  Stebbins  History.) 

"I  have  gathered  from  various  sources  the  following  facts 
and  traditions,  which  may  be  of  interest  to  the  curious  in  such 
matters.  They  are  mostly  obtained  from  the  papers  left  by 
Calvin  Stebbins  and  John  Bliss,  Esqs. 


322  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"Agriculture. — The  first  potatoes  were  brought  to  town 
by  Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner,  about  1754,  or  about  twenty- 
three  years  after  the  town  was  settled.  There  was  but  a  peck 
of  them.  Broom-corn  was  first  raised  by  Thomas  Jones  or 
Joshua  Leonard.  At  a  later  period,  Paul  Langdon  and  Calvin 
and  Sylvanus  Stebbins  raised  it  in  considerable  quantities  and 
manufactured  it  into  brooms.  About  1859  it  was  raised  by 
Daniel  Atchinson  on  West  Street  and  made  into  brooms  on 
the  place. 

"Plaster  of  Paris,  or  gypsum,  was  first  brought  from  West 
Springfield  by  Gad  Lamb,  about  1776. 

"Calvin  Stebbins  brought  the  first  plough  with  iron  mould- 
board  into  town;  and,  probably  Daniel  Isham  used  the  first 
cast-iron  plough  some  ninety  years  ago. 

"Hops  were  cultivated  about  eighty  years  ago,  by  Calvin 
Stebbins.  The  mulberry  fever  raged  eighty  years  ago,  much 
to  the  pecuniary  damage  of  many  speculators. 

"Grafted  fruit  took  the  place,  at  about  the  same  time,  of 
the  old  varieties  or  cider  apples.  Flax  ceased  to  be  cultivated 
at  the  same  time.  Hemp  was  raised  bv  a  few  fanners  in  the 
war  of  1812. 

"Piscatory. — It  was  considered  disreputable  in  early  times 
for  farmers  to  go  after  shad.  They  were  said  by  their  neighbors 
to  be  'out  of  pork.'  Hence,  persons,  going  for  shad,  went  in 
the  morning  before  their  neighbors  were  up,  and  did  not  return 
till  they  were  in  bed.  Shad  were  so  abundant,  and  farmers 
were  so  unwilling  to  take  them,  that  the  fishermen  required 
that  so  many  pounds  of  shad  should  be  taken  for  every  pound 
of  salmon.  About  seventy-five  years  ago  bull-heads  or  horn- 
pouts  made  their  appearance  in  the  Scantic,  and  the  trout  all 
disappeared,  much  to  the  mortification  of  the  anglers.  A  few 
years  after,  the  'pout'  disappeared,  and  the  'trout'  returned. 
There  was  a  furor  ran  through  the  jcountry  at  one  time  of 
obtaining  pearls  froin  fresh-water  clams.  Some  of  respectable 
size  and  value  were  found  in  the  clams  in  the  Scantic. 

"Conveyances. — Lieut.  Paul  Langdon  brought  the  first 
wagon  into  town.  In  1784  there  were  but  two  two-horse 
wagons  and  five  two-horse  sleighs.  In  1804  Jesse  or  Pliny 
Bliss  introduced  a  one-horse  wagon.  First  buffalo  robe  brought 
from  Montreal,  1805;    cost  5.00. 

"Inventions. — Lewis  Langdon  invented  a  machine  for 
turning  cider-mill  screws;    Walter  Burt,  shears  for  cutting  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  323 

nap  of  cloth.  Edwin  Chaffee,  a  native  of  this  town,  invented 
the  use  of  India-rubber  preparations  for  cloth.  Probably  this 
is  the  most  important  invention  made  by  any  of  the  natives 
of  the  town. 

"Vermin. — David  Chapin  brought  the  first  rat  to  the  town 
in  a  sack  of  wool  from  Rhode  Island,  and  permitted  it  to  live. 
Hence,  rats  in  Wilbraham. 

"Stock. — Capt.  Charles  Sessions  introduced  Merino  sheep, 
and  had  a  large  flock.  Capt.  Joseph  Lathrop  and  sons  intro- 
duced Saxon  sheep  and  kept  a  large  flock  of  several  hundred. 
Improvement  was  not  made  in  cattle  till  a  later  date.  The 
breed  of  swine  received  earlier  attention. 

"Names  of  Places,  Mountains,  Brooks,  etc. — The  North 
East  Village  long  since  outgrew  its  name  of  'Sodom;'  and  the 
South  Parish  that  of  'Pokeham;'  and  the  South  Village  that  of 
'the  city.'  The  Goat  Rocks  were  so  called  as  being  the  favorite 
resort  of  William  King's  goats,  one  of  which  got  entangled 
there,  and  was  found  dead.  These  rocks  are  a  ledge  about 
thirty  feet  perpendicular,  at  the  south  end  of  the  North  Moun- 
tains. Rocky  Dundee  was  many  years  ago  the  name  of  the 
region  south  of  Burt's  mill.  Pole  Bridge  Brook  was  so  called 
from  the  bridge  first  built  over  it;  it  was  also  called  Beaver 
Brook,  because  the  beavers  had  built  a  dam  in  it;  Twelve-mile 
Brook,  because  twelve  miles  from  Springfield;  Nine-mile  Pond, 
because  nine  miles  from  Springfield;  Rattlesnake  Peak,  because 
a  rattlesnake  was  killed  there;  Wigwam  Hill  from  the  Indian 
squaw's  wigwam  near  it;  Stony  Hill,  because  it  was  stony; 
Peggy's  Dipping  Hole,  because  Peggy,  in  her  desire  to  attend 
upon  the  means  of  grace  furnished  at  Springfield,  ventured,  in 
her  pilgrimage  thither,  to  cross  some  recently-frozen  ice  and 
went  through  into  the  water." 


"THE  LEGEND  OF  KIBBE'S  SHIRT 

"An  alarm  was  once  raised  in  Wilbraham  that  the  Indians 
were  coming.  It  was  on  this  wise:  One  Kibbe  went  into  the 
woods  on  Sunday,  to  get  his  cow,  and  not  having  the  fear  of 
either  God  or  the  law  before  his  eyes,  he  took  with  him  his  gun 
in  case  he  should  meet  any  game.  Not  long  after  he  left  home, 
the  report  of  two  guns  was  heard,  and  Kibbe  came  running 
back  in  great  apparent  trepidation,  saying  that  he  had  been 


324  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

fired  at  by  two  Indians,  and  that  there  were  more  lurking  in 
the  woods.  The  whole  country  was  alarmed,  and  the  woods 
were  scoured  in  search  of  the  'salvages.'  None  were  found, 
nor  were  any  traces  of  them  discovered.  Suspicion  began  to 
be  excited  that  all  was  not  right  with  Kibbe.  A  more  particular 
examination  of  his  shirt  was  instituted.  He  declared  that  he 
received  one  shot  in  his  breast,  and  when  he  turned  to  run, 
another  shot  took  him  in  his  back.  Lo,  it  was  even  so;  a  bullet- 
hole  was  made  through  his  shirt  before;  another  through  his 
shirt  behind.  But  alas  for  Kibbe's  veracity,  not  for  his  com- 
fort, there  was  no  hole  into  or  through  his  body,  where  the 
bullet  went!  He  saw  he  was  caught,  and  made  confession  that 
seeing  game,  he  was  tempted  to  fire ;  that  he  at  once  bethought 
himself  that  he  was  exposed  to  prosecution  for  violating  the 
Sabbath,  and  took  off  his  shirt  and  fired  through  it,  to  make 
his  neighbors  believe  that  the  Indians  had  attacked  him.  So 
originated  and  ended  the  only  alarm  of  an  attack  on  Wilbraham. 

"THE  PRESBYTERIAN  SADDLE" 

"The  collectors  found  it  very  difficult  at  times  to  get  the 
taxes  for  the  support  of  the  gospel.  In  the  early  days  of  the 
precinct  and  town,  the  money  for  the  support  of  religious 
services  was  raised  by  a  tax  assessed  on  the  property  of  the 
precinct  town  or  parish  when  there  was  but  one  church  society. 
But  as  other  denominations  began  to  be  formed,  their  members 
objected  to  paying  any  part  of  the  expenses  of  the  'standing 
order;'  and  no  little  cunning,  as  well  as  spunk,  was  sometimes 
displayed  in  escaping  payment.  Abraham  Avery  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  the  town,  a  tanner  and  saddle  and  harness  maker; 
a  man  of  great  energy,  indomitable  persistency,  pious  and 
plucky  to  admiration;  from  hair  to  heel  a  Methodist.  He,  was 
cunning  withal,  and  liked  a  practical  joke,  so  be  it  was  worthy 
of  his  religious  profession.  He  owed  a  tax.  He  wouldn't  pay 
it.  The  collector  of  the  parish  determined  to  have  it.  '  Get  it 
then'  said  Avery.  Now  Avery  could  make  a  good  saddle, — 
one  that  the  Queen's  horse-guards  would  be  proud  of  in  finish, 
and  whose  strength  would  have  carried  any  one  of  the  six 
hundred  through  the  immortal  charge  of  Balaklava.  So,  in  his 
meditations,  Avery  determined  to  make  a  saddle  to  pay  his 
tax  withal.  He  selected  the  pieces  of  leather  which  best  pleased 
the  eye,  and  fitted  them  together  as  he  well  knew  how,  being  a 
skilful  worker  in  leather,  and  mounted  it  with  shining  metal, 
so  that  it  was  very  tempting  to  look  upon,  like  the  forbidden 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  325 

fruit  of  Eden.  Avery  knew  that  the  strength  was  not  equal 
to  the  beauty  thereof;  but  as  it  was  not  for  sound  doctrine  he 
made  it,  so  he  deHghted  in  correspondency.  The  collector 
came;  the  shop  had  been  cleared  of  most  of  the  finished  work 
besides,  and  when  he  cast  his  eye  upon  the  saddle  he  did  covet 
it  much  for  his  taxes,  and  was  much  delighted  when  Avery 
declined  to  pay  them.  'I  must  take  this  nice  saddle,  then,' 
said  the  publican.  'Take  it  then,' quoth  Avery  gruffly.  It  was 
taken.  Avery's  face  was  sparkling  all  over  with  delight  as  the 
constable  put  the  prize  in  his  wagon  and  drove  off.  It  was  sold 
at  auction  and  brought  a  great  price,  far  above  the  amount  of 
the  tax;  for  it  was  known  that  Avery's  saddles  were  of  the  best. 
The  constable  offered  the  excess  of  the  sale  over  the  tax  to 
Avery,  but  he  would  not  take  it.  The  constable  tendered  to  him 
the  balance  in  gold;  Avery  said  he  would  have  nothing  to 
do  with  it.  The  saddle  was  purchased  by  a  man  from  Belcher- 
town.  He  was  tempted  to  try  it  early.  It  looked  magnificently 
on  his  horse's  back.  He  sprang  upon  it.  Out  came  one  stirrup ! 
down  broke  the  seat!  out  came  the  bridge!  off  dropped  the 
sides !  and  he  spake  words  of  Avery  and  the  saddle  which  were 
not  lawful  to  be  spoken,  and  should  not  be  written.  He  came 
to  Avery  in  great  wrath,  and  asked  him  if  he  did  not  warrant 
his  saddles.  'Certainly,'  said  Avery.  'Well,  then,'  he  replied, 
'look  at  this  saddle.'  'Ah'  said  Avery  'that  is  the  "Presby- 
terian saddle,"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  that.'  And,  with  a 
relish  of  satisfaction,  he  again  drew  his  strong  waxed-end 
through  the  leather  upon  which  he  was  at  work,  for  he  enjoyed 
hugely  what  had  come  to  pass." 

Abraham  Avery  lived  about  a  mile  north  of  the  center  of  our 
center  village,  where  Ira  G.  Potter  formerly  lived,  in  the  house 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Torrey.  The  tannery  was  at  the  next  house 
north,  formerly  the  Nathaniel  Knowlton  place,  and  now 
owned  by  O.  L.  Milard.  The  harness  shop  was  at  the  first 
house  south,  where  Arthur  Smith  now  lives. 

PAINTINGS  OF  THE  SCENERY  IN  WILBRAHAM 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  Stebbins  History  published 
in  1864: 

' '  I  am  most  happy  to  report  that  the  beautiful  scenery  of 
Wilbraham  has  found  an  artist  and  a  patron.     I  have  seen  and 


S   2 


328  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

been  charmed  by  the  two  paintings  described  below,  in  an 
article  taken  from  the  Zion's  Herald,  Feb.  10,  1864.  They  are 
all  that  the  critic  describes  them  to  be.  I  have  also  seen  two 
others,  just  finished,  of  equal,  if  not  greater,  beauty.  One  is  an 
autumn  scene,  taken  from  a  little  lower  down  the  mountain 
than  the  first  two  were,  and  looking  out  over  the  plains  to  the 
Western  Mountains.  The  foliage  is  admirably  tinted,  and  the 
autumnal  haze  lies  on  the  distant  plains  and  mountains. 
The  other  is  taken  from  the  north  end  of  Nine-mile  Pond, 
the  view  being  toward  the  south,  the  mountains  forming  the 
distant  background  of  the  picture.  The  execution  is  admira- 
ble. 

"Wilbraham  has  many  lovers  of  her  scenery  no  less  than  of 
her  school ;  but  she  has  hitherto  found  no  way  of  revealing  her 
beauties  to  other  eyes  than  those  that  have  been  fastened  upon 
her.  But  she  need  lament  her  lot  no  longer.  Two  paintings, 
at  Williams  &  Everett's  gallery,  in  this  city,  proclaim  her 
beauty  to  every  eye.  They  were  painted  for  Abraham  Avery, 
of  Boston,  by  Mr.  Bricher,  a  young  artist  of  great  promise,  and, 
judging  from  these  works,  of  great  achievement.  The  views 
are  taken  from  a  spot  well-known  to  every  Wilbraham  student, 
— at  the  head  of  the  upper  grove  that  contains  '  the  pulpit '  on 
the  road  winding  up  the  mountain,  behind  the  church.  It  is 
across  the  street  from  the  little  red  cottage  of  the  Goody  Blake, 
of  that  neighborhood,  whose  'hut  was  on  the  cold  hill-side.' 
On  the  left  of  the  picture  are  these  favorite  woods,  the  scene  of 
many  a  prayer-meeting,  oratorical  explosion,  lounging,  reading, 
or  musing  solitaries,  or  of  the  law-breaking  trysts  of  love's 
young  dream.  The  trees  are  superbly  painted,  being  full  of 
rich  color  and  shade.  One  could  almost  transport  himself 
thither,  they  are  so  life-like  and  enchanting.  But  the  eye  must 
not  linger  in  their  gothic  greenness,  nor  dwell  too  long  upon 
the  truthfully-rough  fields  under  the  feet  or  on  the  little  old 
cottage  aforesaid,  snugly  tucked  away  in  the  hillside  in  the 
opposite  corner.  More  familiar  scenes  below  allure  it.  There 
creeps  the  street,  its  few  houses  sprinkled  among  the  many 
trees,  like  white  flowers  blossoming  on  a  green  river.  No  stiller 
in  the  picture  than  in  the  fact  is  the  pleasant  old  road.  With 
pre-Raphaelite  faithfulness  the  artist  puts  upon  it  no  living 
creature,  though  he  might  have  painted  the  aged  grey  postman 
with  his  aged  grey  horse,  and  still  had  it  void  of  life,  so  ghostly 
is  that  sole  animator  of  the  seemingly-deserted  village.  The 
immense  and  not  inartistic  pile  of  the  boarding-house,  most 
inartistic  though  it  be  in  location,  is  partially  hidden  b\'  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  329 

projecting  woods  behind  the  Academy  hill,  which  grove  pre- 
vents the  sight  of  the  Academy  buildings. 

"Beyond  lie  the  plains,  patched  with  herbage,  ploughed 
fields,  trees  and  houses,  and  flecked  with  the  shade  and  sun- 
shine of  a  midsummer  day.  A  lover  of  nature  could  gaze  on  it 
for  hours  without  weariness,  a  lover  of  Wilbraham  with  ever- 
increasing  pleasure. 

"The  companion  picture  gives  us  the  north-western  view 
from  the  same  spot.  The  foreground  is  fictitious,  in  order  to 
avoid  repetition,  though  the  rock  in  the  left-hand  comer  is  a 
veritable  copy  of  the  boulder  perched  upon  the  hill  back  of  the 
house  of  J.  Wesley  Bliss  Esq.  (now  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Gillett.)  The  woods  in  the  foreground  are  more  beautiful, 
if  possible  than  those  in  the  first  picture.  The  outlook  is  true 
to  the  fact.  The  broad  champaign,  beautifully  toned  and 
varied,  and  relieved  of  its  flatness,  gathers  to  the  gorge  between 
Mounts  Holyoke  and  Tom.  These  mountains  are  perfect  even 
to  the  bits  of  houses  that  mar  their  summits.  Through  the 
opening  is  seen  Northampton.  The  mountains  rise  behind  her, 
and  conclude  the  scene. 

"We  understand  that  others  are  on  the  easel,  representing 
the  Nine-mile  Pond,  Glen,  etc.  The  paintings  attract  much 
attention,  and  have  been  highly  commended  in  the  Transcript 
and  the  Gazette.  We  hope  they  and  their  forthcoming  kindred 
will  be  engraved.  The  first,  at  least,  should  be  as  many  a  child 
of  the  Old  Wesleyan  will  wish  it,  on  his  walls.  The  thanks  of 
all  her  ten  thousand  children,  more  or  less,  will  assuredly  be 
given  to  the  munificence  of  the  gentleman  who  ordered  the 
works,  as  well  as  to  the  artist  who  executed  them." 


THE  WILBRAHAM  CELEBRATION 

The  newspapers  of  Springfield  and  Boston  gave  generous 
space,  both  before  and  after  the  anniversary,  to  the  accounts 
of  the  celebration,  and  published  many  illustrations  of  historical 
places  and  of  the  floats  that  appeared  in  the  pageant. 


330  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

The  following  is  a  condensed  copy  of  some  of  the  accounts. 

TOWN  HISTORY  PORTRAYED  IN  BIG 
PARADE   OF  FLOATS 


MANY  OLD  RESIDENTvS  RETURN 
FOR    THE    150th    ANNIVERSARY 


Chauncey  E.   Peck   Gives  Historical  Address  —  Loan 
Exhibition  of  Much  Interest 

Wilbraham,  Tuesday  June  17,  1913. 
' '  Not  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wilbraham  or  any  of  the 
hundreds  of  outsiders  who  visited  the  town  today  will  ever 
forget  the  day  or  the  place.  It  was  the  real  official  opening  of 
the  150th  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  Wilbraham  as  a 
town  and  every  one  from  far  and  near  turned  out  to  do  justice 
to  the  day  and  its  significance.  The  population  of  the  town  for 
the  day  was  swelled  to  double  its  normal  size  and  not  a  single 
person  can  doubt  for  a  moment  but  that  today  was  the  biggest, 
best  and  busiest  day  in  the  whole  history  of  Wilbraham  and, 
indeed,  it  may  be  safely  asserted  that  no  other  New  England 
town  of  its  size  has  ever  held  an  affair  that  could  surpass  it. 
Beginning  early  in  the  morning,  when  the  long  parade  first 
formed,  and  lasting  until  the  last  speech  had  been  delivered  in 
the  late  afternoon  and  the  farmers  had  filed  over  the  hills  to 
their  homes  in  their  wagons  and  automobiles,  there  was  not  a 
single  untoward  incident  to  mar  a  perfect  day. 

"The  Community  Enthusiasm 

"Wilbraham  truly  'did  herself  proud.'  To  many  of  the 
visitors  it  seemed  inconceivable  that  a  comparatively  small 
town  could  arrange  and  execute  such  a  program  as  that  of 
today.  It  would  have  been  a  credit  to  any  city,  irrespective  of 
size.  Perhaps,  though,  the  lack  of  inhabitants  was  more  than 
made  up  for  by  the  feeling  of  comradeship  and  town  pride  that 
has  ever  distinguished  this  little  fastness  among  the  Wilbraham 
mountains.    The  difficulties  of  the  big  cities  in  arousing  universal 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  331 

enthusiasm  were  unknown  to  Wilbraham.  Here  every  man, 
woman  and  child  turned  out  for  the  celebration,  and,  what  is 
more,  has  been  working  steadily  for  weeks  in  preparation  for  it. 
It  was  a  magnificent  spectacle  and  example  of  what  community 
feeling  can  do  when  it  once  sets  itself  about  it. 

' '  Yet  the  credit  must  not  go  wholly  to  the  town  of  Wilbraham 
itself,  no  matter  how  deserving  it  may  be.  Part  of  it  belongs  to 
the  sister  community  of  Hampden,  which  but  a  few  short  years 
ago,  reckoning  years  in  comparison  with  those  of  the  town's 
existence,  was  an  integral  part  of  Wilbraham.  When  Hampden 
separated  from  Wilbraham  her  inhabitants  did  not  lose  their 
feeling  for  the  older  community  and  today  they  showed  their 
gratitude,  and  feeling  of  kinship  by  joining  in  with  the  celebra- 
tion heart  and  soul.  Many  of  the  floats  in  the  big  parade  were 
engineered  and  gotten  up  by  Hampden  people. 

"Then,  too,  there  must  be  credit  given  to  the  former  inhabit- 
ants who  came  for  many  miles  in  trollies  and  automobiles  to 
see  the  old  town  once  more  and  renew  acquaintance  with  old 
friends.  Court  square  in  Springfield  was  a  general  meeting 
place  for  these,  and  the  Palmer  and  Worcester  cars  were  packed 
with  people,  each  exclaiming,  'Why,  there's  George.  I  haven't 
seen  him  since  we  went  to  the  Glendale  school  together,'  or 
'You  haven't  changed  a  bit,  Mary,  since  we  were  in  Mr. 
Howard's  class  at  the  old  Sunday-school.'  When  these  people 
had  reached  the  point  where  they  had  to  leave  the  cars  it  was  a 
different  Wilbraham  and  yet  the  same  Wilbraham  that  met 
their  gaze  from  that  which  they  had  last  known.  There  was 
hardly  a  house  but  boasted  gay  streamers  and  decorations  of 
red,  white  and  blue  in  honor  of  the  big  day.  The  road  from 
North  Wilbraham  to  Wilbraham  Street  was  a  blaze  of  color, 
rivaling,  if  not  surpassing,  any  attempts  at  decoration  in  the 
big  cities  on  a  'safe  and  sane'  Fourth  of  July.  Wilbraham 
street,  as  the  Center  is  called  was  perhaps  the  brightest  as 
indeed  it  had  good  reason  to  be.  Today's  celebration  was  for 
the  benefit  of  this  part  of  the  town.  Tomorrow  will  see  the 
festivities  move  to  North  Wilbraham  and  Thursday,  the 
closing  day  of  the  carnival  will  give  Glendale,  the  third  sec- 
tion, a  chance  to  show  what  it  can  do. 

"The  Parade 

"It  was  promptly  at  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  that  the  Wil- 
braham-street  section  of  the  parade  formed  for  its  trip  to  North 
Wilbraham.     Soon  it  had  reached  that  point  and  was  joined 


332  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

by  the  floats  that  had  formed  at  North  Wilbraham.  Then  the 
parade  retracing  the  way  to  Wilbraham  street,  down  to  the 
'  Mile  Tree '  and  back,  and  ending  at  the  judges'  stand  in  front 
of  the  Methodist  church,  almost  opposite  Rich  hall  of  Wilbra- 
ham academy.  All  along  the  way,  in  front  of  the  houses  gay 
with  bunting,  sat  family  groups,  many  of  which  had  not  been 
reunited  for  years,  but  the  biggest  crowd  was  around  the 
judges'  stand  where  several  hundred  people  had  gathered  to 
witness  the  parade  from  the  most  advantageous  point  possible. 
"When  the  procession  did  coine  in  sight  it  was  worth  any 
kind  of  a  wait.  Down  the  long  street,  well  in  advance,  came 
the  automobile  of  the  marshal,  J.  M.  Perry  of  the  Cutler  com- 
pany, and  directly  behind  him  appeared  the  Brightside  band 
of  31  pieces,  each  small  boy  tooting  away  for  dear  life  and 
helping  to  create  a  decidedly  favorable  impression.  Then  on 
horse-back  came  the  assistant  marshals,  Harold  Bolles,  William 
V.  Baldwin,  Peter  Gebo,  and  Mr.  Stevens,  with  the  aid  of  their 
prancing  horses,  holding  the  floats  at  the  proper  distance  apart, 
and  generally  superintending  the  affair  to  see  that  all  went 
well.  And  then  came  the  great  body  of  the  parade,  decorated 
automobiles  in  the  lead,  and  followed  by  the  historical  floats, 
decorated  floats,  decorated  carriages  and  some  miscellaneous 
floats.     Truly  it  was  a  great  sight. 

"The  Automobile  Section 

"Among  the  automobiles  that  led  the  procession  were  those 
containing  the  guests  of  honor,  former  Senator  W.  Murray 
Crane  of  Dalton,  members  of  the  town  governments  of  Wil- 
braham and  Hampden,  and  for  the  city  of  Springfield,  the 
mother  colony,  five  members  of  the  city  government.  Alderman 
Henry  Lasker  and  John  G.  Maxfield  and  Councilmen  George 
W.  Pike,  William  B.  Sleigh  and  Nelson  W.  Haskell  and  also 
Emmett  Hay  Naylor,  secretary  of  the  Springfield  board  of 
trade,  and  Charles  C.  Spellman  of  the  board  of  Hampden 
County  commissioners.  There  were  about  20  of  the  automo- 
biles in  the  parade,  each  decorated  with  paper  streamers  and 
flowers  and  with  the  chauffeurs  sitting  up  straight  and  stiff  in 
the  hope  of  doing  what  they  could  to  win  the  prizes  that  the 
judges  awarded  to  this  part  of  the  exhibition.  The  first  award 
for  decorated  automobiles  went  to  J.  M.  Perry,  whose  car 
presented  a  beautiful  appearance  with  streamers  and  festoons 
of  light  blue  with  wreaths  of  blue  and  white  flowers  draped 
along  the  side.     Almost  as  lovely  as  this  was  the  appearance 


X    ^ 


a     ^ 


334  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

presented  by  the  car  owned  by  Ernest  Thompson,  which  was 
handsomely  decorated  along  the  same  lines  with  pink  and 
white.  Not  one  of  the  cars  but  stood  a  good  show  for  a  prize, 
and  it  was  onh^  after  long  deliberation  that  the  judges  arrived 
at  their  decision. 

"The  Historical  Division 

"It  was  the  aim  of  the  historical  division  of  the  parade  to 
trace  the  history  of  the  town  of  Wilbraham  and  incidentally  of 
Hampden  by  the  floats  used.  This  they  succeeded  in  accom- 
plishing in  excellent  manner.  At  the  head  came  an  automobile 
containing  Anson  Soule  in  the  guise  of  an  old  town  crier,  and 
the  executive  committee.  Mr.  Soule's  six  feet  three  inches  of 
hight,  230  pounds  of  weight,  and  eighty-two  years  of  age,  all 
clad  in  the  garb  of  an  ancient  pilgrim,  and  his  constant  ringing 
of  a  big  bell  and  proclamation  of  'Hear  ye,  hear  ye'  attracted 
to  him  the  considerable  notice  and  appreciation  that  was  his 
due.  A  mere  glance  at  him  carried  one  back  300  years  and  it 
was  only  the  sight  of  the  automobile  that  made  one  remember 
that  this  is  the  20th  century  and  not  the  17th. 

"  'Purchasing  the  land  from  the  Indians,'  the  first  float  in 
the  division  of  the  parade,  represented  the  purchasing  of  the 
mountain  part  of  the  town  from  the  Indians.  It  was  a  master- 
piece from  start  to  finish,  and  no  one  could  have  raised  a  dis- 
senting voice  against  the  opinions  of  the  judges  who  awarded 
it  the  first  prize.  Myron  Luther  Bruuer  conceived  the  float, 
which  was  drawn  by  six  horses  driven  by  Raymond  Pease. 
In  the  background  stood  a  realistic  wigwam  surrounded  by 
pines  and  in  front  of  this  were  grouped  a  number  of  men  in 
colonial  clothes,  clinching  the  bargain  with  several  Indians, 
all  of  whom  looked  good  enough  to  be  real.  The  hand  of  the 
old  blind  chief  was  guided  by  his  daughter  as  it  traced  the 
characters  giving  the  land  to  the  settlers,  for  tradition  says 
that  the  chief  was  blind  and  that  his  daughter  was  both  his 
hand  and  his  eye.  Among  those  who  were  on  the  float  were 
F.  A.  Gurney,  Miss  Katherine  Beebe,  Allen  Robb,  and  Wilbur 
Gebo. 

"  'The  first  settlers,'  the  next  float  in  line,  depicted  the  first 
settlers  of  1731,  their  rude  log  cabin  with  the  pot  containing  the 
dinner  steaming  away  in  front  of  the  hut.  Two  men  were  just 
returning  from  their  work,  and  their  wives  waited  for  them  in 
front  of  the  cabin,  while  a  small  child  played  on  the  ground, 
apparently  oblivious  of  anything  except  the  fact  that  he  was 


336  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

really  and  truly  the  child  of  those  early  inhabitants  who  built 
the  foundations  for  the  Wilbraham  of  today.  Charles  Hitch- 
cock was  the  originator  of  this  float,  and  one  of  the  women  on 
the  float  was  Mrs.  Charles  Hitchcock. 

"  'The  last  of  the  race'  came  directly  behind  'The  first 
settlers'  and  contained  the  old  squaw  who  made  famous 
Wigwam  hill  by  living  there  long  after  her  race  had  taken  the 
long  trail  to  the  West.  C.  C.  Beebe  was  the  squaw  and  acted 
the  part  in  realistic  fashion.  He  sat  crouched  in  front  of  his 
wigwam,  his  eyes  turned  to  the  ground  and  brooding  over  the 
glories  of  the  dead  past.  Round  after  round  of  applause 
greeted  this  float,  for  it  was  well  known  that  Mr.  Beebe  had 
conceived  and  carried  out  the  idea  almost  at  the  last  moment, 
when  everyone  else  had  given  up  the  problem,  despairing  of 
getting  anything  that  would  be  adequate  to  what  was  wanted. 
The  setting  was  worthy  of  a  professional  stage  manager,  and 
Mr.  Beebe  showed  himself  an  accomplished  actor  in  his  part. 
Back  of  the  wigwam  were  the  skulls  of  two  steers,  and  in  front 
was  all  the  paraphernalia  that  goes  to  make  life  in  an  Indian 
camp.  Very  deservingly  the  judges  awarded  the  second  prize 
to  this  float. 

"  'The  first  meeting  house'  came  next.  This  float  was  the 
work  of  Edwin  C.  Powell  and  was  a  triuinph  of  itself.  The 
meeting  house  stood  at  the  rear  of  the  float  and  in  front  of  it 
was  the  good  old  parson,  who  on  ordinary  days  is  George 
Capen,  exhorting  his  flock,  which  consisted  of  Mrs.  F.  A. 
Bodurtha,  Mrs.  Mandana  Moseley  and  Mrs.  John  Pease.  A 
little  behind  this  float,  came  another  'first  minister'  the  role 
being  taken  by  Henry  Green,  who  was  driving  to  church  with 
a  chaise  that  looked  every  day  of  1000  years  old,  but  only 
guaranteed  some  100  years  or  more. 

"  '  Past  and  present,'  the  next  float,  represented  the  17th 
century  and  the  20th.  Nearly  everything  was  found  here, 
including  all  industries  from  the  old  hand  spinning  to  the 
modern  methods  of  today.  The  Puritan  women  aboard  found 
themselves  in  strange  company  for  beside  them  was  a  Wilbra- 
ham academy  youth  in  striped  blazer  coat  and  white  flannel 
trousers  making  ardent  love  to  a  debutante  of  the  date  of  1913. 
Among  those  on  the  float  were  W.  H.  McGuire,  Mrs.  Eva 
Gumey,  Miss  Maud  Hubbard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardy  and  Miss 
Marjorie  Bolles. 

"  The  'minutemen  of  1913'  brought  the  recollection  of 
spectators  to  recent  years  when  these  same  minutemen  did 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  337 

yeoman  service  in  putting  out  the  forest  fire  that  threatened 
the  town  a  year  ago. 

"One  of  the  most  interesting  floats  was  the  one  depicting 
the  old  home  industries  with  a  cheese  press  and  shoemaking 
establishment  going  at  full  speed,  and  women  engaged  in  the 
old  arts  of  knitting  and  braiding  at  the  sides  of  the  wagon. 

"Wilbraham  academy  likewise  had  an  interesting  one  with 
the  goddess  of  learning  in  the  guise  of  Mrs.  Alfred  Gustafson, 
wife  of  one  of  the  teachers,  mounted  on  a  purple  throne  and 
disseminating  knowledge  to  two  youthful  pupils  in  cap  and 
gown. 

"Every  school  in  Wilbraham  and  Hampden  was  repre- 
sented. District  No.  7,  once  taught  by  A.  J.  Blanchard,  had 
an  excellent  float  and  a  number  of  Mr.  Blanchard's  old  pupils 
had  gathered  from  far  and  near  to  ride  in  it,  and  thus  do  honor 
to  the  memory  of  their  old  master.  On  the  side  was  an  old 
blackboard  75  years  of  age  which  was  the  only  one  used  in  the 
early  days.  Mary  Newell's  school  was  also  represented  by  a 
fine  float,  and  No.  5;  'the  smallest  but  most  important'  and 
the  second  oldest  in  the  town,  had  a  placard  on  the  side  stating 
that  it  had  been  taught  by  Master  Ezra  Barker. 

"There  were  several  old  chaises  dating  back  as  far  as  1793, 
and  1811.  One  labeled  'Ancient  Days'  enabled  the  Day  family 
to  act  out  a  pun  on  their  name,  for  in  the  old  carryall  sat 
Clinton  C.  and  Morton  L.  Day  and  Mrs.  Elvira  C.  (Day) 
Blanchard. 

"F.  W.  Green's  old  stagecoach  attracted  much  attention  and 
was  well  loaded  with  passengers,  inside  and  out. 

"The  manner  in  which  wives  used  to  ride  behind  their 
husbands  was  represented  by  two  boys  riding  a  pony,  Wallace 
Ripley  and  Ellery  Gebo  in  the  guise  of  the  first  minister  and  his 
bride  on  their  way  to  church. 

"Business  Floats 

"One  of  the  best  was  that  of  the  Ludlow  manufacturing 
associates  which  won  first  prize,  by  a  float  with  a  'breaker 
card '  machine  in  full  operation  showing  how  sacking  and  other 
products  are  manufactured  from  jute. 

"Second  prize  went  to  the  Cutler  company  with  a  float 
heaped  high  with  barrels  and  bags  of  flour. 

"The  Collins  manufacturing  company  also  had  an  attractive 
float  decorated  mostly  in  white,  and  showing  a  huge  pyramid 
of  their  fine  papers. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  339 

"  '  To  Church — 1741 — Wigwam  Hill.'  Oxcart,  driven  bv 
Amos  Merrill  with  gun  over  his  shoulder,  carrying  Florence 
Lee,  Allena  Kibbe  and  Melba  Moore. 

"  '  Dec.  16,  1773.'  The  British  ship  Dartmouth,  with 
William  Vyne  Sessions,  Robert  and  Paul  Sessions,  and  Robert 
Vizard  throwing  the  tea  overboard,  all  descendants  of  Robert 
Sessions,  South  Wilbraham's  representative  at  the  Tea  Party. 
Driver  E.  J.  Thresher. 

"  '  The  First  Schoolhouse.'  Arranged  by  Kenia  Carew 
after  the  plan  of  the  first  Scantic  school;  teacher,  Herbert  H. 
Thresher;  pupils,  Kenia  Carew,  Ruth  Pike,  Hazel  and  Mildred 
Pease,  Austin  Harris  and  Neil  Kibbe;   driver,  Arthur  Pease. 

"  '  Dividing  the  Town— March  28,  1878.'  Third  prize 
winner;  prepared  by  C.  L.  Kibbe;  Russell  Kibbe  and  Harry 
Lyons  sawing  a  log  in  two  before  a  map  of  the  two  towns; 
driver,  Ralph  Lyons. 

"  'Old  Agriculture'  prepared  for  the  Hampden  Grange  bv 
Mrs.  McCray  and  Mrs.  Sessions;  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen; 
driver,  D.  L.  McCrav:  other  participants,  Mrs.  Lena  Keenev, 
Willie  McCray,  J.  J.'Flynn. 

"  'New  Agriculture'  a  grange  float  prepared  by  Mrs.  Bolter 
and  Mr.  Wait ;  a  small  orchard  planted  on  one  of  W.  J.  Mackav's 
Mt.  Vision  fruit  farm  wagons;  attendants  Mrs.  Bolter  and  Mrs. 
Dickinson;   driver,  Harry  Dickinson. 

"Two  floats  with  Grammar  School  children  carrying  the 
flags  of  Hampden's  42  college  graduates.  Float  for  No.  2 
decorated  with  daisies  b}^  Miss  Fay  and  Grace  Pease.  Driver 
W.  W.  Leach.  The  other  schools  were  carried  by  E.  P.  Lyons. 
"Primary  children  on  F.  T.  Kellogg's  auto  truck.  A.  G. 
Corey's  store  planned  by  Frank  Perry;  Mr.  Corey  in  charge; 
clerks,  Mabel  Davis,  Arlene  Hewlett,  Mary  Williams,  Esther 
Bradbury,  Frank  Perry,  Eddy  Leddy  and  Raymond  Kibbe; 
driver,  C.  N.  Whittaker. 

"H.  L.  Handy,  auto  truck  carrying  'Sir  Mustard'  a  prize 
ox,  whose  father  and  mother  came  from  Guernsey.  Ruth 
Merrill  beside  the  driver. 

"  '  Spotted  Float' — Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Isham.  driving  a 
wagon  loaded  with  different  kinds  of  spotted  animals. 

"  'White  Poultry.'  Driven  by  George  Chapin,  decorated 
with  hundreds  of  his  prize  ribbons,  with  the  help  of  Miss  Fay 
and  Miss  Pease. 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  L.  Kibbe  in  an  old  two-wheeler,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  I.  Burleigh  in  Deacon  Sumner  Session's  old  carriage, 
and  Francis  Eldridge  and  Florence  Loomis  and  Helen  Kibbe  in 


340 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


another  vehicle  of  the  olden  times,  all  dressed  in  costumes  of 
150  years  ago. 

"At  12.30  o'clock  dinner  was  served  to  about  500  in  the 
academy  gymnasium  by  the  Barr  catering  company.  As  guests 
of  honor,  on  either  side  of  Chairman  C.  C.  Spellman,  sat  former 
Senator  W.  Murray  Crane  and  Principal  Douglass  of  the  acade- 
my. Also  at  that  table  were  the  Springfield  City  ofhcials  and 
the  anniversary  committee. 

"After  the  dinner  a  large  audience  assembled  at  2.30  in  the 
Methodist  church,  which  was  handsomely  decorated.    Marshall 


MEMORIAL  M.   E.  CHURCH 


J.  M.  Perry  introduced  Charles  C.  Spellman,  chainnan  of  the 
County  Commissioners  of  Hampden  County,  as  the  presiding 
chairman.  Mr.  Spellman  spoke  briefly  in  appreciation  of  the 
honor  conferred  upon  him,  paying  tribute  to  former  Senator 
Crane,  who,  while  himself  a  native  of  Dalton,  has  always  taken 
an  interest  in  Wilbraham,  because  his  grandmother,  Lucinda 
Brewer,  was  born  here.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Martin 
S.  Howard.  Then  the  school  children  sang  'The  Breaking 
Waves  Dashed  High.' 

"  Aldennan  Lasker,  in  behalf  of  Mayor  Denison  of  Springfield, 
who  was  unable  to  be  present,  brought  the  greetings  of  the 
Mother  Springfield  to  her  Daughter  Wilbraham.  He  pointed 
out  that  the  interests  of  Springfield  are  the  same  as  those  of 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  341 

the  towns  roundabout.  Wilbraham  he  deemed  to  be  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  these,  and  it  was  with  due  appreciation  of 
the  privilege  that  he  counted  himself  among  those  present. 
Brief  remarks  of  a  congratulatory  character  were  made  by  one 
of  the  selectmen  of  Hampden,  and  by  William  R.  Sessions. 
The  chairman  then,  with  some  complimentary  remarks,  intro- 
duced the  chairman  of  the  historical  committee,  to  give  the 
Historical  Address,  which  occupied  more  than  one  hour  and 
a  half,  and  is  included  in  the  foregoing  History. 
' '  The  Address  closed  with  these  words ; 


"SONS  AND  DAUGHTERS  OF  WILBRAHAM 

"We  enter  upon  a  new  period  of  fifty  years.  Let  us  so  live 
that  those  who  come  after  us  will  honor  our  memory  as  we 
honor  that  of  our  fathers'.  Let  us  strive  to  make  ourselves 
better,  to  make  Wilbraham  better,  and  so  help  to  make  the 
world  better. 

"The  Loan  Exhibit 

"Columns  of  appreciation  and  description  might  be  written 
about  the  loan  exhibit  which  was  held  in  Grange  hall  where  a 
number  of  old  and  interesting  relics  were  displayed.  Com- 
munion sets  used  at  the  Congregational  Church  from  the  very 
earliest  times.  One  presented  by  Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner, 
and  loaned  by  Mrs.  Brewer.  There  were  also  sets  used  by  the 
Methodist  church,  the  Glendale  church  and  Grace  church  at 
North  Wilbraham.  Old  china  loaned  by  Mrs.  Nesmith,  a 
compass  belonging  to  Mr.  Newell  of  Hampden  which  was  used 
in  1729,  a  watch,  still  running,  dated  1638,  owned  by  G.  S. 
Atchinson,  collection  of  old  firearms  dating  from  the  16th 
century  and  loaned  by  W.  A.  Newton,  Indian  relics  picked  up 
in  Wilbraham  by  B.  F.  Green,  and  a  raised  map  of  Hampden 
made  by  Rev.  C.  B.  Bliss.  There  was  a  fine  collection  of  rare 
old  quilts  and  coverlets,  homemade  linen  and  flax,  oil  paintings, 
a  chest  200  years  old,  a  wooden  shaving  case  dated  1767,  a 
hand  trunk  200  years  old  owned  by  Myron  L.  Bruuer's  grand- 
father, fancy  work,  china  and  old  books,  a  part  from  Hampden; 
an  old  tea  chest  brought  here  in  1776,  a  very  old  and  exceedingly 
valuable  copper  luster  teapot,  and  a  hymn  book  dating  from 
1780,  loaned  by  Mrs.  C.  E.  Pease,  a  collection  of  ancient  Bibles 
and  other  books  from  Rev.  M.  S.  Howard,  a  leather  pouch 
used  in  the  Revolutionarv  War,  two  old  drums,  one  carried  in 


342  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

the  war  of  1812,  owned  by  George  Knowlton,  and  the  other  by 
Ahnond  Laird,  a  hand  netted  tester  used  on  a  four-posted  bed, 
and  several  chairs  dating  back  more  than  a  century. 

"During  the  day  Rich  hall  of  Wilbraham  Academy  was 
thrown  open  for  inspection  and  many  took  the  opportunity  to 
view  the  changes  that  have  been  made  there.  Principal  Gay- 
lord  W.  Douglass  was  on  the  premises  most  of  the  day  and 
several  of  the  academy  boys  were  delegated  to  show  the  visitors 
around.  The  new  dining  room,  library  and  sleeping  rooms  for 
the  boys  were  all  looked  over  and  all  the  visitors  expressed 
great  admiration  at  the  changes  that  had  been  wrought. 


SECOND  DAY  OF  CELEBRATION 
DEDICATION  OF  FINE  LIBRARY 


NOTABLE  FEATURE  IN  CELEBRx\TION  OF 
WILBRAHAM'S  150TH  ANNIVERSARY 


CANTATA  IS  GIVEN 


"Wilbraham,  June  18,  1913. — Ideal  weather  again  greeted 
Wilbraham  residents,  present  and  past,  on  the  second  day  of 
the  150th  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  Today's 
celebration  was  held  in  North  Wilbraham,  where  the  Cutler 
public  library  was  publicly  dedicated  and  formally  opened  with 
thoughtful  addresses  by  Librarian  Wilcox  of  the  Holyoke  City 
Library  and  by  Rev.  Dr.  William  R.  Newhall  of  Lynn.  An 
address  by  J.  T.  Bowne  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  college  faculty  on 
'The  Indians  in  and  about  Wilbraham,'  the  presentation  of 
the  floral  cantata,  'The  Floral  Queen,'  in  the  gardens  of  Mrs. 
H.  W.  Cutler,  and  a  loan  exhibition  in  the  library  building 
were  other  features  of  the  day. 

"The  attendance  to  the  celebration  ])roper  was  swelled  b}' 
hundreds  of  automobilists,  largely  from  Springfield,  who  came 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


343 


to  participate  in  the  annual  outing  of  the  Springfield  Automobile 
club  in  Wilbraham.  The  Brightside  band  again  gave  several 
concerts  during  the  day. 

"The  North  Wilbraham  library,  which  was  formally  opened 
today,  is  a  handsome  two-story  house,  with  French  roof,  the 
gift  to  the  town  of  the  late  Henry  Cutler,  who  came  to  Wil- 
braham in  1877  and  was  one  of  its  inost  enterprising  and 
public-spirited  citizens  and  business  men. 

' '  On  the  ground  floor  the  front  room  will  be  used  as  a  reading 


PUBLIC  LIBRARV. 


room  and  the  room  in  the  rear  for  the  books,  of  which  there  is 
already  a  large  collection  in  the  present  library  building. 

"Rev.  William  Lewis  Jennings,  pastor  of  Grace  Union 
church,  presided  at  the  opening  of  the  building  at  11  o'clock, 
first  introducing  the  aged  pastor  of  Wilbraham  street,  Rev. 
Martin  S.  Howard,  who,  in  his  prayer  of  dedication,  besought 
Providence  to  look  with  divine  favor  upon  this  endeavor  to 
provide  young  people  with  the  lofty  companionship  of  books 
and  magazines  of  the  best  type. 

"Before  presenting  the  keys  of  the  library  to  the  trustees, 
Mr.  Jennings  referred  to  the  public  institutions  existing  in  our 


344  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

own  country,  among  the  most  beneficial  of  which  he  classed 
the  public  library,  now  considered  indispensable  even  in  the 
small  town,  which  will  have  a  traveling  library  even  if  it  cannot 
afford  a  permanent  one.  It  is  a  pleasing  thought  that  in  these 
country  and  social  centers,  boys  and  girls  are  meeting  with  the 
army  of  noble  men  who  through  their  written  words  have 
helped  to  develop  the  world's  life.  One  of  the  best  adjuncts  of 
a  library  is  its  reading  room,  where  young  people  gather  to 
read  and  study. 

"Turning  to  Dr.  A.  L.  Damon,  one  of  the  trustees,  Mr. 
Jennings  presented  the  key  of  the  building  in  behalf  of  the 
heirs  of  Mr.  Cutler,  the  donor,  expressing  the  fond  hope  that 
the  building  would  be  placed  to  the  best  uses. 

"Librarian  Wilcox,  the  first  speaker  on  the  program,  said 
that  he  could  not  see  what  he  could  add  to  the  joy  of  those  who 
were  now  about  to  enjoy  the  use  of  this  beautiful  building.  He 
said  that  the  happiness,  comfort  and  joy  of  a  good  library  can 
only  be  known  by  those  who  have  experienced  it;  this  is  an 
unfailing  blessing  lasting  from  early  days  until  the  close  of  life. 
Mr.  Wilcox  then  pictured  what  North  Wilbraham  will  be  50 
years  from  now,  on  the  occasion  of  another  centennial  anni- 
versary. In  closing  the  speaker  said  that  he  knew  that  every 
librarian  in  the  state  will  be  thrilled  as  he  reads  that  another 
small  town  is  rejoicing  in  the  progress  of  its  library,  entering 
into  a  building  of  its  own.  He  said  that  North  Wilbraham  was 
indeed  fortunate,  for  not  all  larger  places  are  equally  blessed; 
for  example,  his  own  town  did  not  have  a  library  building  of  its 
own  until  it  had  attained  a  population  of  40,000. 

"  Miss  Ida  F.  Farrar,  assistant  at  the  Springfield  City  library, 
brought  greetings  from  the  Springfield  library  and  told  of  the 
benefits  derived  from  libraries  in  some  of  the  towns  that  she 
had  visited.  She  advised  the  children  to  look  forward  in 
appreciation  of  what  the  library  might  do  for  them. 

"Rev.  Mr.  Legg  Applauded 

"Rev.  H.  F.  Legg  of  Wilbraham  Center  created  applause  by 
his  fervid  sentiment  that  'Wilbraham  is  the  best  town  in  the 
best  state  of  the  best  country  in  the  world.'  He  said  that  he 
was  more  proud  each  day  of  the  fact  that  he  lived  in  Wilbra- 
ham and  he  was  thoroughly  confident  that  a  bright  future 
awaited  the  new  library. 

"Rev.  William  R.  Newhall  has  many  friends  in  Wilbraham 
through  his  long  and  successful  connection  with  the  academy 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


345 


and  was  heard  with  pleasure.  In  opening  his  address  on  'The 
Place  of  the  Library  in  the  Country  Town,'  Dr.  Newhall 
expressed  his  delight  to  be  home  again  and  to  look  back  over 
the  old  trails  with  his  friends  and  former  neighbors.     He  said 


HENRY  CUTLER. 


that  he  thanked  God  that  the  history  of  a  New  England  town 
is  always  essentially  a  religious  history  and  instanced  as  one 
of  the  best  types  of  a  New  England  town,  the  late  Henry 
Cutler,  donor  of  the  library,  whose  compact  figure,  keen  eye, 
pleasant  smile  and  kindly  sympathy,  he  said  came  before  him. 
He  was  a  good  neighbor  and  a  public  spirited  citizen  and  this 


346  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

library,  his  gift,  this  'house  by  the  side  of  the  road'  was  like 
himself,  a  friend  to  all  the  land. 

"  Coming  to  his  subject.  Dr.  Newhall  said  he  was  glad  of  that 
most  New  England  institution,  the  country  town.  He  loved 
the  country,  he  said,  and  particularly  old  Wilbraham,  which 
decorated  with  her  150  years,  never  looked  so  beautiful.  The 
public  library  is  to  have  a  permanent  place  here  because  the 
country  town  is  to  have  a  permanent  place  in  the  land.  The 
great  changes  that  have  come  are  not  altogether  for  the  worse 
nor  peculiar  to  the  town.  True  the  children  who  play  over 
the  stone  wall  perchance  now  speak  a  language  learned  over 
the  sea  and  everywhere  there  is  change,  but  the  immigrant 
is  our  guest,  and  is  to  be  welcomed.  The  country  town  will  be 
able  to  maintain  its  place.  For  example  Wilbraham  has  main- 
tained in  the  150  years  of  her  existence  certain  institutions 
indispensable  to  a  free  people — the  school  which  stands  for 
instruction,  the  church  which  stands  for  righteousness,  the 
state  which  stands  for  rights  and  the  home  which  stands  for 
affection.  Here,  the  speaker  referred  to  the  leadership  of  the 
veteran  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Howard  and  his  leadership  in 
righteousness. 

"The  library  is  the  institution  of  intelligence.  It  does  not 
compete  with  the  church,  the  school,  the  town  meeting,  the 
home.  The  library  in  modem  life  is  an  indispensable  institu- 
tion; it  is  not  the  fifth  wheel  in  the  coach  but  like  the  fifth 
wheel  in  the  auto,  it  must  necessarily  be  provided.  All  four 
institutions  reach  their  best  life  as  the  library  is  opened. 
The  library  does  largely  help  the  schoolhouse.  It  reaches 
out  a  helping  hand  to  the  school  and  as  the  pupil  reads  the 
best  books  he  wins  promotion  in  study.  The  library  helps 
the  home  and  the  man  who  studies  books  along  his  line  of 
work  is  fitting  himself  thereby  for  a  higher,  more  lucrative 
position. 

"Library  a  Yankee  Notion 

"Tracing  the  growth  of  the  library,  Dr.  Newhall  reminded 
that  the  modem  library  is  a  Yankee  notion  and  the  effort  of 
Benjamin  Franklin  in  Philadelphia  to  start  a  real  library  for 
the  good  of  the  people  was  described  and  praised.  Libraries 
were  scarce  indeed  up  to  1800  and  about  that  date  in  Hartford 
gifts  for  a  public  library  were  asked  because  books  helped  and 
should  be  circulated.  The  American  library  leads  the  world 
and  two  great  words  stand  out  prominently  in  its  \'ocabulary 
— accessibility  and  accountability. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  347 

"In  closing  Dr.  Newhall  said  that  while  the  North  Wilbra- 
ham library  was  not  a  pretentious  building  and  not  crowded 
with  books,  it  was  a  modem  library  and  better  fitted  to  quicken 
the  intelligence  than  the  old  libraries  such  as  were  found  on 
the  banks  of  the  Nile. 

"At  12  o'clock  in  a  large  tent  across  from  the  library  the 
Barr  catering  company  served  dinner  to  about  200  persons,  and 
at  2  o'clock  Prof.  J.  T.  Bowne  spoke  on  'The  Indians  of  Wil- 
braham.' In  his  address  Dr.  Bowne  used  as  illustrations  for 
accurate  descriptions  of  the  implements  and  articles  made  by 
the  Indians,  a  large  case  of  collections  of  Indian  relics  gathered 
for  the  most  part  by  B.  F.  Greene  of  Wilbraham,  who  for  many 
years  has  been  collecting  curiosities  of  this  character.  Dr. 
Bowne  described  the  life  that  the  Massachusetts  Indian  led 
nearly  300  years  ago  along  the  old  Bay  path  where  he  had  his 
villages  or  camps.  An  interesting  description  of  a  journey 
undertaken  by  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  from  Boston  westward  in 
1645  was  given,  and  the  kindliness  of  the  Indians  met  with. 
Their  houses  or  huts,  apparel,  ornaments,  food,  utensils, 
weapons,  hospitality  to  strangers  were  all  accurately  portrayed 
and  also  the  astonishment  with  which  they  must  have  witnessed 
the  evidences  of  civilization  as  given  by  the  whites. 

"Cantata  is  Given 

"A  large  crowd  assembled  at  3  o'clock  to  witness  the  beauti- 
ful cantata,  'The  Flower  Queen,'  by  30  young  girls,  all  prettily 
attired  in  gay  costumes  and  carrying  flowers  of  the  season. 
The  cantata  was  given  on  the  spacious  grounds  adjoining  the 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  W.  Cutler  and  Mrs.  Cutler  was  in 
charge  of  the  cantata,  which  was  a  most  complete  success.  A 
young  woman  representing  a  recluse  disgusted  with  the  world 
was  depicted  as  finding  in  a  garden  where  fragrant  flowers  grew, 
helpful  lessons  of  unselfishness  and  purity.  As  the  young 
woman  beheld  the  crowning  of  the  queen  of  the  flowers  she  was 
led  to  see  that  true  preferment  comes  unsought  and  through 
service  to  others.  Esther  Bell  was  the  May  queen,  Verena 
Griswold  took  the  part  of  the  recluse,  and  Mrs.  Alice  Hoyt  was 
mistress  of  ceremonies.  Among  those  impersonating  the 
flowers  were  Esther  Calkins  as  a  dandelion;  Edith  Roberts  the 
crocus;  Mrs.  Lillian  Dickinson,  the  lily;  Ruth  Bell  a  violet; 
Dora  LaBroad,  the  sunflower;  Mrs.  Ethel  Bradway,  the 
chrysanthemum,  while  many  little  girls  acted  the  parts  of 
poppies  and  fairies. 


S^H  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

"The  loan  exhibit  which  was  held  in  the  library  all  day, 
while  naturally  not  as  large  as  the  one  seen  in  Wilbraham  the 
day  previous,  was  large  and  decidedly  interesting,  completely 
filling  three  rooms  on  the  ground  floor.  There  was  a  sideboard 
handed  down  in  the  Warren  family  from  Col.  John  Bliss,  who 
was  bom  in  1727,  a  fireplace  presented  to  the  library  by  Miss 
E.  O.  Beebe,  pots  and  kettles  of  old-fashioned  make,  many 
articles  belonging  to  Mrs.  W.  F.  Morgan,  tapestry  coverlets, 
school  books,  bills  of  ancient  date,  old  trunks,  guns,  china, 
pictures,  pikes  carried  by  John  Brown's  men,  medicine  chest, 
wearing  apparel,  and  Indian -made  buckskin  coat  loaned 
by  Miss  Beebe,  kitchen  utensils,  chairs,  chests  and  old 
looms. 

"Among  those  who  contributed  to  make  the  exhibit  such  a 
success  were  Mrs.  Maria  Baldwin,  the  Woodward  family,  G. 
M.  Greene,  Mrs.  N.  I.  Bradway,  the  Collins  family,  Mrs.  A.  L. 
Bell,  Mrs.  D.  C.  Griswold,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Green,  Mrs.  Stephen 
Fiske,  Mrs.  Carlos  Alden,  J.  M.  Perry,  Mrs.  Emma  A.  Mowry, 
Mrs.  C.  F.  Fuller,  Lila  Atchinson  and  others." 


.THIRD  DAY  OF  CELEBRATION 
Veterans    Unveil    Massive    Boulder 

Wilbraham  Pays  Tribute  to  War  Heroes 
in  Closing  Day's  Exercises 


FINE  LOAN  EXHIBIT 

Beebe  Collection  in  Old  Mixter  Tavern  Attracts 
Manv  Visitors 


"Wilbraham,  June  20,  1913 — Glendale  with  its  grassy  glen 
and  dale,  its  historic  church,  ancient  homes  near  by,  gay  with 
bunting,  and  its  massive  boulder,  on  which  were  lettered  in 
bronze  the  names  of  its  war  heroes,  presented  a  scene  not  soon 
to  be  forgotten.    To  add  to  the  chann  of  the  picture  a  goodly 


The  History  of  Wilbraha:m  349 

company  of  Civil  war  veterans  came  to  lift  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
from  their  comrades'  monument,  school  children  from  district 
No.  7  sang,  and  recited  patriotic  selections,  or  assisted  in  the 
pageant  and  a  large  number  of  former  residents  by  their  kindly 
words  of  greeting  helped  to  give  a  real  old  home  character  to 
the  celebration.  Springfield,  the  mother  of  Wilbraham,  was 
well  represented  by  Dr.  Marshall  Calkins,  a  former  resident, 
who  though  85  years  old  in  a  few  days,  is  wonderfully  well 
preserved,  and  by  William  R.  Sessions,  also  formerly  of  Wil- 
braham. There  were  many  from  Springfield  drawn  to  the 
celebration  by  ties  of  kinship.  Many  distinguished  men  and 
women  have  come  from  Glendale.  Close  by  on  the  Munsell  place 
was  bom  Chief  Justice  Marcus  P.  Knowlton,  and  Dr.  Calkins 
was  bom  very  near  the  humble  district  school.  Many  others 
might  be  mentioned  who,  now  scattered  widely,  are  proud  to 
acknowledge  Glendale  as  their  birth  place,  as  their  letters  of 
regret  read  by  Miss  Beebe  after  dinner  testified. 

"The  exercises  of  the  morning  opened  at  11  o'clock  at  the 
boulder  with  selections  by  the  local  band.  Then  the  school 
children  of  district  No.  7  assisted  by  A.  M.  Seaver  and  Miss 
F.  M.  Moore,  teacher  of  No.  7,  sang  a  welcome.  B.  F.  Greene, 
the  presiding  officer,  said  that  he  wished  to  thank  the  women 
especially  for  their  part  in  furnishing  meals  and  in  other  ways 
encouraging  the  men  of  the  neighborhood  in  getting  out  the 
boulder  and  in  setting  it  in  place.  Rev.  W.  L.  Jennings  ofifered 
prayer  and  as  the  two  flags  that  covered  the  boulder  were 
lifted  the  children  sang  'The  Star  Spangled  Banner.' 

"The  first  speaker  to  be  introduced  was  William  R.  Sessions, 
who  expressed  his  regret  that  Dr.  George  Fuller  of  Monson. 
who  was  to  have  given  an  address,  was  ill. 

"Mr.  Sessions  said  in  part:  'This  is  the  150th  anniversary 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  old  town  of  Wilbraham.  You  people 
of  Glendale  have  arranged  to  celebrate  the  time  by  a  neighbor- 
hood observance  and  have  coupled  with  it  the  unveiling  of  a 
tablet  to  the  memory  of  soldiers  of  the  war  that  gave  to  these 
United  States  their  independence,  and  also  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  war  that  preserved  the  union  of  states.  This  is  certainly 
a  wise  and  patriotic  arrangement.  Wilbraham  has  always 
been  conspicuous  for  its  readiness  to  do  its  full  share  in 
the  support  of  the  government,  particularly  in  the  time  of 
war. 

"  'At  the  time  of  the  old  French  war  the  neighborhood 
furnished  a  generous  quota  of  men.     Twenty  years  afterward 


350 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


UiNVEILING  BOULDER. 


SOLDIERS'   BOLLDKi;  AT   ULEXDALE. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  351 

when  the  town  was  only  12  years  old  came  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  x^t  least  36  men  of  Wilbraham  turned  out  on  a 
minute's  notice  at  the  Lexington  alarm  and  marched  on  foot  to 
the  scene  of  conflict.  More  than  50  marched  to  the  Bennington 
alarm.  Wilbraham  had  in  1860  a  population  of  2081:  she  sent 
to  the  war  223  men  or  just  about  one  soldier  for  each  nine 
inhabitants.  These  223  men  from  Wilbraham  were  26  in  excess 
of  all  calls,  so  that  when  the  war  closed  this  town  had  furnished 
all  the  men  called  for  by  the  government  and  had  a  credit  of 
26  already  in  the  service.  The  town  with  a  valuation  of 
$842,000  expended  $25,000  for  war  purposes.  Besides  the 
$25,000  expended  by  the  town  there  were  large  sums  raised 
bv  women's  soldiers'  aid  societies. 


"  'In  this  hasty  manner  I  have  tried  to  give  an  idea  of 
conditions  during  the  Civil  war.  The  war  was  in  full  blast 
at  the  time  of  the  centennial  of  Wilbraham  50  years  ago  and 
little  space  was  given  to  it  in  the  historical  address  on  that 
occasion;  hence  I  have  deemed  this  effort  to  be  not  out  of 
place.' 

"Referring  to  some  of  the  men  from  Wilbraham  who  have 
been  most  conspicuous,  Mr.  Sessions  first  instanced  John  Bliss, 
who  came  into  Wilbraham  from  Longmeadow  about  the  year 
1750,  served  in  the  old  French  war,  was  selectman  many 
terms,  member  of  the  provincial  Congress,  representative  in 
the  General  Court,  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  and 
had  a  fine  Revolutionary  war  record.  Col.  Bliss  has  only  one 
descendant  living  in  Wilbraham.  One  of  his  daughters  married 
the  first  minister  of  the  South  parish,  Rev.  Moses  Warren,  and 
Fred  A.  Warren  of  North  Wilbraham  is  his  great-great-grand- 
son. Mr.  Bliss  left  no  son  but  one  of  his  daughters  married 
Edward  Morris,  whose  son,  Judge  Oliver  B.  Morris  of  Spring- 
field, the  long  time  judge  of  probate  for  Hampden  County,  was 
John  Bliss'  grandson  and  Henry  Morris,  son  of  Oliver  B. 
Morris,  who  was  judge  of  Mass.  court  of  common  pleas,  was 
his  great-grandson.  George  Morris,  son  of  Oliver  B.,  who  was 
clerk  of  courts  of  this  county  for  many  years,  was  his  great- 
great-grandson.  He  served  as  clerk  of  courts  until  his  death, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  the  present  clerk  of  courts, 
Robert  O.  Morris,  who  is  a  great-great-grandson  of  John  Bliss 
of  Wilbraham.  E.  B.  Maynard  was  bom  in  Wilbraham  and 
served  for  years  as  judge  of  the  superior  court. 

"  'Our  most  conspicuous  real  son,'   said   Mr.   Sessions,    'is 


352 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Marcus  P.  Knowlton,  who  was  bom  in  this  neighborhood  of 
Wilbraham,  of  Wilbraham  bom  parents.  He  was  for  years  a 
justice  of  the  superior  court,  promoted  to  the  supreme  court 
and  then  to  be  chief  justice.' 

"  Dr.  Marshall  Calkins  whose  name  is  a  household  word  with 
Glendale  people,  followed,  and  in  a  short  address  showed  how 
fitting  it  is  that  nations  should  honor  their  dead  with  monu- 


DR.  MARSHALL  CALKINS. 

ments.    He  closed  by  reading  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  soldiers 
from  Glendale  as  they  appear  on  the  boulder. 


"Dr.  Marshall  Calkins'  Speech 

"Dr.  Calkins  said:  'The  study  of  evolution  and  history 
shows  a  gradual  progress  during  thousands  of  years  and  the 
most  intelligent  peoples  have  erected  monuments  and  artistic 
tombs  to  perpetuate  the  memories  of  those  who  have  been  of 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


353 


great  service  to  their  country.  Monuments  as  well  as  history 
show  that  the  English  people  have  been  in  the  advance.  In 
colonizing  they  have  the  best  success — in  the  Western  hemi- 
sphere the  Pilgrim  and  Puritan  have  shown  their  mental  and 
physical  superiority — this  fact  is  shown  by  our  genealogy  at 
the  present  time,  as  most  of  our  ancestors  and  soldiers  are 
descendants  of  the  English  and  Anglo-Saxon  stock.  Heredity 
shows  its  power.  The  names  on  our  boulder  are  reliable 
witnesses.  Most  of  them  are  descendants  of  the  Puritans  and 
trace  their  pedigree  back  to  periods  between  the  12th  and  18th 
centuries.  As  illustrative  fact,  the  number  of  soldiers  serving 
in  our  wars  under  the  Calkins  name  is  430  during  our  short 
history.  This  fact  is  established  by  the  military  records.  No 
doubt  under  other  names  the  proportion  of  soldiers  to  popula- 
tion may  be  even  greater.  The  names  on  our  boulder  show 
this  probability.' 


ANTI-SLAVERY  DEMONSTRATION. 


"Anti-Slavery  Demonstration 


' '  The  children  then  sang  '  The  Prison  Cell '  and  as  they  were 
closing,  the  audience  was  surprised  to  see  coming  down  the 
hill,  pursued  by  men,  old  time  slaves,  who,  just  as  they  were 
about  to  be  seized  by  their  masters,  were  rescued  by  Glendale 
people  and  borne  away  in  safety.    This  was  intended  to  typify 


o 

K 
X    P5 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  355 

just  such  scenes  as  occurred  in  the  North  60  years  ago  when 
Glendale  was  said  to  be  a  famous  underground  railroad  station. 
Then  there  were  recitations  and  more  singing  by  the  children, 
and  at  12  o'clock  the  women  of  Glendale  served  a  most  excellent 
dinner  in  the  church,  which  was  partaken  of  by  200  people. 
Miss  E.  O.  Beebe  was  toastmistress  at  the  after-dinner  speaking 
and  among  those  who  spoke  briefly  were  representatives  of  the 
Connecticut  Valley  Historical  society,  former  residents,  the 
resident  pastors  and  summer  guests. 

"Original  poems  were  read  by  Mrs.  J.  E.  T.  Dowe  and  Mrs. 
Edith  Miniter  of  Boston,  and  many  letters  of  regret  were  read 
by  Miss  Beebe. 

"Fine  Exhibition  of  Antiques 

"Following  the  exercises  in  the  church  a  large  number  of  the 
visitors  present  repaired  to  the  old  Mixter  tavern,  a  mile  up  the 
road,  where  was  displayed  from  2  to  8  o'clock  what  William  F. 
Adams,  president  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  Historical  society 
pronounces  one  of  the  best  exhibits  of  its  kind  in  the  state. 
Indeed,  as  an  illustration  of  the  life  of  the  common  people  in 
the  olden  time  it  is  undoubtedly  the  best  in  Massachusetts. 
The  collection  bears  the  name  of  the  Beebe  collection,  named 
for  Miss  E.  O.  Beebe,  who  for  years  has  been  treasuring  antiques 
used  and  passed  on  by  her  ancestors.  At  the  time  of  Spring- 
field's 275th  anniversary  Miss  Beebe  kindly  loaned  her  collec- 
tion to  the  Connecticut  Valley  Historical  society  as  a  part  of 
its  notable  exhibit  in  the  First  church  parish  house. 

"The  exhibit  yesterday  was  so  large  that  it  occupied  prac- 
tically the  entire  space  in  five  large  rooms  and  the  piazza.  One 
room  was  filled  with  rare  old  china,  another  with  needle  craft, 
while  in  a  chamber  upstairs  was  displayed  articles  in  use  in  a 
home  of  the  year  1830.  The  articles  on  the  veranda  all  came 
from  the  attic.  In  the  first  or  china  room  stood  a  long  table 
on  which  was  arranged  old  china  in  the  order  of  its  date  or 
years  of  service.  Here  were  seen  old  wooden  utensils  used  in 
Wilbraham,  stag  horn  sets,  specimens  of  wedding  dishes,  such 
as  the  wedding  china  of  John  and  Lucia  Calkins.  The  collec- 
tion of  Ludlow  bottles  is  probably  the  best  in  the  state.  In 
the  typical  living  room  of  75  years  ago  there  could  scarcely  be 
found  anything  that  was  modem.  The  fireplace  with  its 
ancient  foot  stoves  and  warming  pans,  was  decidedly  unique, 
and  scattered  about  the  room  were  the  Beebe  coat  of  arms 
worked  here  and  there,  an  old  sampler  of  1793,  a  Hancock's 


o   s 


z   I 


358  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Bible  sent  in  by  a  gentleman  living  at  a  distance,  a  replica  of  a 
lady's  sewing  table,  charts  dating  long  ago,  and  more  china. 

"In  an  old  closet  was  glassware  of  every  description;  this 
was  fitted  up  with  furnishings  from  an  old  Wilbraham  house. 
In  one  of  the  upstairs  rooms  was  a  fine  rare  collection  of  old 
almanacs  and  anti-slavery  documents.  A  chair  near  by  con- 
tained a  full  gentleman's  costume  of  the  old  time,  with  tall 
hat,  vest,  gloves,  necktie  and  collar.  On  a  large,  curious  bed 
was  arranged  a  young  woman's  costume  of  75  years  ago. 

"The  replica  of  a  room  of  1830  contained  an  old-fashioned 
high  bed,  rag  carpet,  wax  flowers,  and  on  the  bed  referred  to, 
the  entire  costume  of  an  old-time  lady.  The  tables  here  and 
all  through  the  house  were  draped  in  homespun  and  old-time 
fabrics  used  as  backgrounds. 

"The  piazza  was  perhaps  the  most  interesting  of  all,  and 
here  were  arranged  various  curiosities,  many  hardly  under- 
stood by  the  present  generation,  such  as  a  bee  smoker  for 
driving  out  bees,  queer  reels  and  wheels,  strange  appearing 
cradles,  a  pedler's  trunk,  a  picture  painted  by  Miss  Brewer, 
second  preceptress  of  the  academy,  a  large  bread  trough  in 
which  children  could  be  rocked  in  case  of  emergency,  queer 
lanterns,  ladies'  caps  and  slippers,  baskets  and  unique  examples 
of  the  photographer's  art. 

"The  Mixter  tavern,"  where  the  exhibit  was  held  and  in 
which  Miss  Beebe  makes  her  home,  is  nearly  as  ancient  as  the 
treasures  that  it  holds  and  admirably  adapted  for  the  purpose. 

"Miss  Beebe  was  assisted  in  her  explanation  of  the  antiques 
by  Mrs.  Edith  Miniter  of  Boston." 

And  so,  the  three  days'  celebration  of  the  150th  anniversary 
of  the  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Wilbraham  was  brought 
to  a  close.  Almost  perfect  weather  prevailed  throughout  the 
entire  time,  and  not  an  accident  marred  the  occasion. 


FRED  W.  GREEN,  1896  AND  SINCE. 


ALLYN  M.  SEAVER.  ALBERT  A.  PHELPS. 

SELECTMEN  OF  WILBRAHAM. 


360  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

FARMS  AND  HOMES  OF  WILBRAHAM 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  homesteads  of  the  town,  in  their 
order,  on  the  different  roads  and  crossroads.  The  names  of 
present  owners  are  given,  also  those  of  former  owners,  beginning 
with  the  latest,  and  continuing  in  their  order  to  the  earliest, 
so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain  them.  A  dash  will 
indicate  that  some  names  are  unknown  to  us. 

There  are  four  roads  running  north  and  south  through  the 
town,  nearly  parallel  with  each  other  and  about  one  mile  apart. 
To  assist  in  readily  locating  these  places,  we  will  call  the  most 
westerly  road,  the  one  running  along  Stony  Hill,  West  Street; 
the  next  one  east.  Main  Street;  the  next  one  east,  along  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  Ridge  Road;  and  the  one  still  further 
east.  East  Street. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  the  names  of  many  of  the 
"Former  owners"  of  the  places. 

Main  Street,  Going  South 

Beginning  on  the  east  side  of  the  street  at  the  Soldiers' 
Monument,  which  is  practically  the  exact  centre  of  the  town. 

1.  Monument  Lot.  Owned  by  the  town,  with  conditions. 
Former  owners:  James  B.  Crane  of  Dalton,  Chauncey  E.  Peck, 

John  Brewer,  Gaius  Brewer,  .     The  John  Brewer  house, 

which  stood  just  south  of  the  monument,  was  burned  about 
1875.  The  monument  was  erected  in  1894  by  the  kindly 
munificence  of  Mrs.  Lucia  S.  Foskit. 

Just  south  of  the  monument  lot  was  a  store,  kept  for  several 
years,  about  1860-75,  by  Clinton  C.  Leach.  South  of  that,  and 
north  of  the  lane  (formerly  called  "Burt's  Lane"),  is  the  cellar 
hole,  which  marks  the  site  of  the  Allis  House,  where  a  hotel 
was  kept  for  a  number  of  years  by  Mrs.  E.  M.  Allis,  also  b\- 
Mr.  James  P.  Brown. 

2.  A  few  rods  from  Main  Street,  on  "Burt's  Lane,"  is  the 
livery  stable  and  office  of  the  stage  line  which  connects  the 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


361 


centre  village  with  the  railroad  line.  The  stage  line  and  stable, 
are  now  owned  by  Fred  W.  Green,  who  also  ownes  the  two  lots 
last  mentioned.  The  stage  line  business  was  formerly  owned 
by  W.  L.  Collins. 

3.  "Burt's  Lane"  (subject  to  some  rights  of  way),  and  also 
the  two  lots  in  front  of  the  livery  stable  and  horse  sheds  are 
now  owned  by  the  North  Parish  of  Wilbraham,  which  is  the 
legal  name  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  Society. 


CU.\OKEGAli**XAi.  CHI  KCH   KKECTED  IN   1912. 

4.  First  Congregational  Church.  Erected  in  1912-13  and 
dedicated  May  11,  1913.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building, 
including  organ  and  furniture  was  about  117,000.  This  building 
was  erected  to  replace  the  one  which  was  struck  by  lightning 
and  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  afternoon  of  July  5,  1911,  and  is 
the  fourth  meeting  house  on  that  location. 

The  one  preceding  it  was  erected  in  1877,  to  replace  one  that 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  through  the  act  of  an  irresponsible  boy, 
on  June  24  of  that  year,  and  which  was  built  in  1857.  The 
first  meetinghouse  was  erected  on  Wigwam  Hill  in  1747-8,  and 
was  moved  on  to  this  ground  in  1794,  where  it  was  used  for 


36'2  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

public  worship  until  1857,  when  it  was  moved  on  to  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  the  livery  stable  and  converted  into  a  bam. 
It  served  the  useful  purpose  to  shelter  beasts  for  twenty  years 
and  was  burned,  with  four  dwelling  houses,  in  the  conflagration 
of  1877.  One  of  the  dwelling  houses,  which  stood  north  of  the 
present  church,  about  where  the  road  leads  into  the  horse  sheds, 
had  been  used  for  many  years  as  a  store  and  postoffice  by 
R.  R.  Wright,  Roderick  Burt,  Pliny  Cadwell,  Mrs.  Hempstead, 
and  others.  In  1906  the  Parish  purchased  the  lot  south  of  the 
church,  formerly  occupied  by  the  dwelling  of  Monroe  Pease, 
which  was  burned  in  1902.  Former  owners:  Monroe  Pease, 
1873,  L.  B.  Bliss,  1865,  S.  Foskit,  and  others.  A  meat  market 
and  store  was  kept  there  for  a  few  years  about  1890. 

5.  West  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Gurney. 
Former  owners:  Heirs  of  E.  B.  Brewer,  Edwin  B.  Brewer, 
William  Brewer,  Jr.,  William  Brewer,  Isaac  Brewer,  who  was 
the  first  settler  of  that  name  in  town.  In  May,  1746,  the 
Precinct  "Voated  and  granted  to  Isaac  Brewer,  att  the  Rate 
of  three  pounds,  old  tenor  per  year,  for  the  use  of  his  Chamber 
to  Gary  on  the  publick  worship  in."  It  was  used  for  that 
purpose  in  1746-7-8.  There  is  a  stone  in  the  underpinning; 
on  the  north  side  of  the  house,  with  the  date  "Ocf  2,  1748," 
cut  in  it.  The  house  was  also  used  for  a  tavern,  probably  until 
about  the  time  of  the  death  of  Isaac  Brewer  in  1788. 

6.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Lucia  S.  Foskit,  who  inherited  it  from 
her  husband  Stebbins  Foskit,  M.D.  Former  owners:  Ralph 
W.  Allen,  1865,  George  Bishop,  S.  A.  and  Elizabeth  Gushing, 
Elizabeth  Hale,  E.  B.  Brewer, ,  Isaac  Brewer. 

7.  Opposite  Congregational  Ghurch,  owned  by  Mrs.  Martha 
G.  Munsell,  inherited  from  her  husband  Elijah  Munsell,  who 
purchased  it  in  1889  from  Asa  Bushnell.  Sold  by  former  owners 
as  follows;  James  Luke  in  1860,  Mark  Trafton  in  1858,  James 
W.  Mowry  in  1857,  R.  R.  Wright  in  1851,  Pliny  Gadwell  in 
1839,  Ebenezer  Brown  in  1826,  heirs  of  Dr.  Joel  Lyman  in  1819, 
Rachel  and  Elijah  Work  in  1803,  Jonathan  Merrick  in  1801, 
William  King,  Jr.,  in  1779,  Gharles  Brewer  in  1778,  Luke  Bliss 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


363 


and  Z.  Parsons  in  1777,  Enoch  Chapin  purchased  it  in  1760, 
David  Chapin  in  1733. 

8.  The  Foskit  Memorial  Grange  Hall.  Owned  by  Wilbraham 
Grange  No.  153,  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  The  site  for  the 
building  was  purchased  from  Mrs.  Munsell  in  1900. 

The  hall,  above  the  foundation,  was  built  and  furnished  by 
Mrs.  Lucia  S.  Foskit  as  a  memorial  to  her  deceased  husband, 
Stebbins  Foskit,  M.D.,  and  was  dedicated  to  its  present  use 
February  27,  1901.  It  is  used,  every  other  year,  for  town 
meetings,  and  for  many  purposes  of  a  social  character,  and  is  a 
welcome  addition  to  our  public  buildings. 


REV.  MARTIN  S.  AND  MRS.  HOWARD. 

Mr.  Howard  was  Pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  for  43  years. 

On  September  26,  190.5,  a  large  company  assembled  in  the  Congregational  Chapel  to 
join  with  them  in  celebrating  their  Golden  Wedding  Anniversary.  I  insert  a  few  verses 
from  a  poem  written  for  the  occasion,  illustrative  of  their  work  here. 

He,  to  tell  of  the  Redeemer, 

Who  was  slain  by  sinner's  hate; 
She,  to  hold  his  hands  up  longer, 

When  the  burden  seemed  too  great. 


364  The  History  of  Wilbraham 


He,  to  pour  the  oil  of  comfort 

On  the  wounded  hearts  of  men; 

She,  by  gentle  ministrations, 

To  relieve  the  smart  of  pain. 


So  together  they  have  journeyed, 

Through  the  length  of  fifty  years. 

Cheering  up  the  weaker-hearted, 

Changing  into  trust  some  tears. 


9.  The  Deacon  Warriner  Parsonage.  Owned  by  Congrega- 
tional Society,  North  Parish  of  Wilbraham.  Purchased  by  the 
Parish  in  1868,  and  has  been  occupied  by  their  pastor,  Rev. 
Martin  S.  Howard,  for  forty-five  years.  Purchased  by  previous 
owners  as  follows;  George  L.  Felton,  1858,  Ralph  Glover,  1855, 
George  Bishop,  1851,  Samuel  Leach,  1834,  who  is  supposed  to 
have  built  the  present  house. 

In  1890,  the  Parish  "voted  that  the  Parsonage  shall  be 
named  the  Dea.  Warriner  Parsonage,  in  honor  of  the  first  donor 
of  money  to  the  Parish."  The  lot  originally  contained  about 
fifteen  acres. 

10.  Just  south  of  the  Warriner  Parsonage.  House  now  owned 
by  Edward  M.  Stephens.  This  place  includes  a  large  part  of  the 
land  which  was  purchased  by  the  North  Parish  in  1868,  and 
was  sold  to  Horace  Clark  and  others  in  1869.  Other  owners: 
H.  E.  Aliller,  Chas.  D.  Woods  and  H.  A.  Morgan,  Horace  Clark, 
who  built  the  present  house  about  1870. 

11.  On  east  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  John  Molloy.  Former 
owners:    M.  H.  Lyons,  heirs  of  Harriet  E.  Pease,  ■  Mixter, 


12.     East  side  of  street,  owned  by  Mrs.  William  A.  Newton. 

Former  owners,  Wells  L.  Phelps,  Mrs.  Amelia  S.  Phelps,  -, 

Luther  B.  Bliss,  who  built  the  present  house  about  1855.  It 
was  used  for  a  store  and  postoffice  and  also  for  a  residence. 
The  store  and  postoffice,  also  his  residence,  having  previously 
been  in  the  old  schoolhouse  which  stood  just  south  of  the 
jjresent  house. 

This   school   district   was   No.   2.   until    1842,   when   it   was 
divided,  and  district  No.  12  established.    I  have  been  informed 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


365 


that  there  were  about  65  scholars  who  attended  the  school. 
The  new  schoolhouse  in  district  No.  2  was  built  a  little  north 
of  the  present  stone  church,  and  that  in  the  new  district  No.  12 
was  erected  about  half  a  mile  further  south.  It  is  the  house 
now  owned  by  Rev.  Josiah  G.  Willis.  I  attended  school  there. 
The  old  schoolhouse,  which  had  also  served  as  a  store  and 
postoffice,  was  moved  across  the  street  onto  land  now  owned  by 
Edward  M.  Stephens,  converted  into  a  dwelling  and  was 
occupied  by  tenants  until   1869,  when  it  was  removed  to  the 


THE   MERRICK  ELM. 

Standing  about  20  rods  east  of  Main  Street,  and  about  8  rods  south  of  the  road  leading 
to  the  Woodland  Dell  Cemetery,  in  the  mowing  now  owned  by  M.  C.  Wade.  Girth  18  feet 
and  6H  inches,  at  five  feet  above  the  ground.  The  view  is  to  the  northwest,  showing 
Congregational  church  in  the  background. 


north  side  of  Springfield  Street,  and  is  now  occupied  by  Frank 
Sweatland.    Owned  by Rice. 

13.  Owned  by  Richard  J.  Sackett.  Former  owners:  Dr.  H. 
G.  Webber,  heirs  of  Edmund  Jones,  Edmund  Jones,  who  built 
the  present  house,  probably  about  1850. 

14.  Owned  by  Marshall  C.  Wade,  who  purchased  it  about 
1894.     Former  owners:    John  M.   Merrick,  his  father,  John 


366 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Merrick,  his  father,  Lieut.  Jonathan  Merrick,  his  father,  Dea. 
David  Merrick,  who  settled  there  about  1735.  The  house  was 
used  for  a  tavern  for  many  years.  John  M.  Merrick  was 
licensed  as  an  "Innholder"  in  Wilbraham  in  1840  and  probably 
later. 


HOME  OF  CLARENCE  M.  RIPLEY. 


15.  On  east  side  of  street,  just  south  of  the  brook.  Owned  by 
Mrs.  Isabel  Ripley.  Former  owners:  Rev.  James  Sutherland, 
Jane  A.  Lilley  (Twing),  Rufus  Twing,  who  probably  built  the 
house. 


16.     Now  owned  by  George  E.   Knowlton.     Former  owners: 
Mrs.  Julia  Knowlton,  Nancy  Pease,  Jacob  Neff,  Warner- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  367 

The  house  was  probably  built  by  Warner.  It  is  just  north  of 
former  "Meeting  House  Lane." 

17.  Just  north  of  the  road  to  Monson,  now  owned  by  Jane  E. 
Hancock.  Former  owners:  Moses  Hancock,  who  purchased 
the  place  in    1840,   WilHam   Twing,    Benj.   Fuller,    1831,   Asa 

Fuller,  ,  Ezra  Barker,  1752  to  1777.     The  Fullers  kept  a 

tavern  here  from  about  1831  to  1838,  which  was  burned. 

18.  On  west  side  of  street.  Marble  shop,  now  owned  by 
M.  C.  Wade.  Formerly  owned  by  George  W.  Lilly,  who  built 
the  shop  and  carried  on  the  business  of  marble  cutting,  erecting 
gravestones,  etc.,  for  about  twenty  years,  until  about  1883. 
The  shop  has  been  used  for  storage  purposes  for  more  than 
twenty  years. 

19.  Blacksmith  shop.  Formerly  owned  and  carried  on  by 
Rufus  Twirg  for  many  years,  until  about  1882.  It  is  now 
owned  by  Elias  S.  Keyes,  and  used  for  storage  of  lumber. 

20.  East  side  of  street,  south  of  road  to  Monson.  Now  owned 
by  Myron  L.  and  Mrs.  Laura  Bruuer.-  Inherited  from  Myron 
Bruuer,  who  inherited  it  from  his  father.  Dr.  Luther  Bruuer, 
who  purchased  the  place  in  1824.  The  present  house  was  built 
about  1835.  Former  owners:  Jonathan  Dwight,  George  Bliss, 
Joseph  Sexton  in  1791,  David  Shearer,  Gabriel  Bumham,  Abel 
King,  Phineas  Newton,  Jr.,  Phineas  Newton,  Simeon  Willard. 
In  1791,  the  North  Parish  "Voted  that  the  Meeting  House  be 
set  on  the  south  side  of  Joseph  Saxton's  lot  in  the  Street." 
Probably  the  intended  location  was  near  this  house. 

21.  A  little  south  of  Bruuer  place.  Now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Josephine  (Bliss)  Johnson,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  Form.er  owners: 
Mrs.  Rower  a  Bliss,  L.  Stowell,  Rev.  Moulton. 

22.  A  little  south  of  Johnson  place.  Now  owned  by  George 
W.  Hulmes.     Former  owners:    Lyman  Fisk,  Herry  C.  Frost, 

Henry    Dewey,    ,    H.    Bridgman    Brewer,    who   built    the 

present  house  about  1856. 


368  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

23.  On  west  side  of  street,  a  little  south  of  Brewer's  pond. 
Now  owned  by  William  Butler.    Former  owners:   Mrs.  Frances 

Davis,  Otis  K.  Ladd, ,  Rev.  John  Bowers,  who  lived  here 

while  he  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  1837-1855. 

24.  East   side   of   street,    now   owned   by   Albro   J.    Bryant. 

Former  owners:   Mrs.  Agnes  McCaw, Schoonmaker, , 

William  Twing,  William  Gilbert,  who  inherited  the  place  from 
his  father-in-law,  Dr.  Gideon  Kibbe,  whose  father,  Capt. 
Gideon  Kibbe,  built  the  house  about  1810,  on  land  purchased 
from  M.  K.  Bartlett.  Dr.  Kibbe  lived  here  and  practiced  his 
profession  for  about  fifty  years. 

25.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  (Howard)  Green.  Former 
owners:  C.  P.  Bolles,  Gilbert  Warfield,  R.  J.  Conboy,  Rev. 
Franklin  Fisk,  Horace  Clark,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Brewer,  S.  Jenks, 

William  Knight,  Esq., ,  Daniel  Warner,  who  was  the  third 

person  who  settled  in  town,  and  whose  daughter.  Comfort, 
bom,  March  15,  1734,  was  the  first  white  child  bom  here.  It 
was  on  these  grounds  that  the  ordination  services  of  the  Rev. 
Noah  Merrick  were  to  have  been  held,  June  24,  1741,  but  the 
rain  prevented. 

Here  also  the  first  postofhce  in  Wilbraham  was  established, 
William  Knight,  Esq.,  postmaster,  and  the  door  leading  from 
the  hall  into  the  front  room,  still  shows  the  place  where  letters 
could  be  dropped  in  when  the  office  was  closed.  A  few  rods 
south  of  this  house,  "Federal  Lane"  leads  off  to  the  east. 

26.  Now  owned  by  William  T.  Eaton  who  built  the  present 
house  on  the  site  of  one  burned  about  1880.     Former  owners: 

James  M.  King,  ,  Joseph  McGregory,  Rev.   Daniel  Lee, 

S.  Holman,  Elijah  Work  and  others.  The  first  principal  of 
Wesleyan  Academy,  Re^^  Wilbur  Fisk,  lived  here  in  the 
Elijah  Work  house. 

27.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  William  Thompson.    Former  owners: 

Mrs.  Abby  S.  Knight,  Lawton,  Stephen  Utley,  who  kept 

a  tavern  there,  probably  about  1814-1849.  Rev.  Ezra  Witter 
who  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  1797  to  1814, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  369 

probably  built  the  house.  He  kept  a  private  school  there. 
There  is  some  hand  carving  in  the  finish  of  the  north  front 
room,  which  is  said  to  have  been  done  by  him. 

28.  Now  owned  by  Delbert  H.  Eaton.  Former  owners: 
Elias  S.  Keyes  who  built  the  present  house,  about  1890,  on  the 
site  of  one  burned,  w^hich  formerly  belonged  to  H.  Bridgman 
Brewer,  who  lived  there  for  some  years  about  1850.  Fonner 
owner,  Maj.  Wm.  Clark. 

29.  Now  owned  by  Rev.  Josiah  G.  Willis.  Former  owners: 
George  Summers,  Mrs.  Francis  J.  Warner.  This  house  was 
the  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  12,  from  about  1842  to  about 
1880.  It  had  a  hall  on  the  second  floor  which  was  sometimes 
used  for  social  gatherings. 

30.  Now  owned  by  Thomas  H.  Nims.  Former  owners:  Mrs. 
James  0.  Martin,  Chauncey  E.  Peck,  Mrs.  Nellie  M.  Scofield, 
who  inherited  it  from  her  mother,   Mrs.  Sarah  Mears,   Mrs. 

Merrick, ,  Noah  Warriner,  who  inherited  it  by  the  will  of 

Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner,  who  had  no  children.  Deacon 
Warriner  located  here  about  1734,  and  was  the  fourth  settler. 
He  kept  a  tavern  in  the  house.    (See  history  for  further  details.) 

31.  Ten  or  fifteen  rods  south  of  the  Deacon  Warriner  home- 
stead is  a  cellar  hole  which  marks  the  site  of  the  first  house 
erected  in  the  territory  now  known  as  Wilbraham.  Here 
Nathaniel  Hitchcock  erected  his  log  cabin  in  1730,  which  was 
occupied  by  his  family  the  following  year.  Here,  Dr.  Samuel 
F.  Merrick  lived  for  many  years  and  I  suppose  his  daughter, 
Abigail,  went  from  here  to  join  the  "Merry  Making"  at  the 
house  of  Levi  Bliss  in  1799,  when  she,  with  the  six  young  persons 
were  drowned  in  Nine  Mile  Pond.  Probably  Polly  Warriner, 
who  was  drowned  at  the  same  time,  lived  in  the  next  house 
north  (now  owned  by  Mr.  Nims),  as  her  father,  Noah  Warriner 
inherited  that  place  by  the  will  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  Warriner  in 
1780.  The  house  which  formerly  stood  here  was  a  fine  specimen 
of  colonial  architecture.  It  was  burned  about  1875.  The  land 
is  now  owned  by  Thomas  H.  Nims. 


370  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

32.  Eight  or  twelve  rods  south,  is  another  cellar  hole,  which 
marks  the  site  of  a  house  which  was  burned  about  1892.  The 
land  is  now  owned  by  Lee  W.  Rice.  Former  owners:  Mrs. 
Miller,  J.  Oakes,  James  Robinson,  Town  of  Wilbraham,  perhaps 

— ■ —  King. 

33.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  heirs  of  George 
W.  Pease,  inherited  from  his  father,  Reuben  Pease,  who  carried 
on  the  shoe-making  business  there  in  a  little  shop  which  stood 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  lot.  He  made  my  first  pair  of 
boots.  He  was  librarian  for  School  District  No.  12,  and  kept 
the  books  in  his  shop.  A  few  of  them  may  still  be  found  in 
town. 

34.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  L.  L.  Stone. 
Former  owners :  Frederick  and  Edward  Merrick,  who  inherited 
it  by  the  will  of  Lorenzo  Bliss,  who  inherited  it  from  his  father 
Pynchon  Bliss,  who  purchased  it  from  the  heirs  of  Solomon 
Warriner,  and  may  have  inherited  it  partly  from  his  wife 
Betsey,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Solomon  Warriner,  who  was  a 
son  of  Capt.  James  Warriner,  who  may  have  lived  on  this  place. 
Solomon  Warriner  was  librarian  of  a  library  in  operation  here 
in  1781.     (See  history.) 

35.  On  east  side  of  street.     Now  owned  by  John  A.  Calkins. 

Former  owners:   Smith,  Watrous,  Soule,  John  S.  Albray,  , 

Henry  Burt,  ,  Noah  Alvord,  who  located  here  about  1732, 

and  was  the  second  settler  here. 

36.  On  west  side  of  street.  The  stone  house.  Now  owned  by 
Charles  S.  and  Fannie  M.  Merrick,  who  inherited  it  from  their 
father  James  Merrick.  Former  owners;  Roderick  Burt,  Moses 
Burt,  who  built  the  house  about  1830,  Moses  Burt  Sr.,  who 
located  here  about  1740,  or  earlier. 

37.  Now  owned  by  heirs  of  Samuel  F.  Merrick,  who  built  the 
stone  bam  about  1854.  The  house  was  built  later.  The  north 
line  of  this  farm  is  the  north  line  of  the  overplus  land  in  the 
second  division,  which  is  said  to  be  82  rods  wide  and  extends 
south,  probably  to  the  north  line  of  the  Henry  D.  Foskit  place. 


The  History  of  ^YILBRAHAM 


371 


38.  On  east  side  of  street,  just  north  of  the  "Green,"  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Addie  (Cadwell)  Speight.  Inherited  from  her 
father  Henry  Cadwell. 

East  of  Mrs.  Speight's  place,  on  the  north  side  of  the  "Green," 
there  were  two  or  three  houses  about  1840-1870,  which  were 


\ 

■(  \     ^Sk* 

W^' 

vvTV''^^ 

\                 "  tS-Zp^m  Mm^ 

\*_^-"      TV^  >>hHI^^| 

>^r^  M^9i 

^^^^\""^ 

fe"^  ^JM 

d|^^^^^BMS^-^^f>^  >' 

Ik   m  ^Smr 

^^^X     y^^>g»t>.-^ 

K|gK| 

[•iMWMi '      11 IJMMB^^^m 

■^^^^^^Hf^'^*'^ '  ~  ^.^^tfH 

^1 

THE  "MILE  TREE." 

A  black  oak  tree,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument.  When  the  selectmen 
of  Springfield  altered  the  road  "running  east  &  west  near  the  revJ  Noah  Miricks  dwelling," 
in  1749,  they  began,  "about  40  rod  south  of  Moses  Burts  Dwelling  House,  at  a  black  oak 
tree."    This  may  be  the  same  tree  that  was  there  165  years  ago.    The  view  is  looking  east. 


owned,  or  occupied  by  the  stone  cutters  who  worked  in  the 
quarry,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  a  little  further  to  the  east.  The 
business  was  carried  on  by  Joseph  McGregory  and  others. 


372  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

until  the  layer  of  brown  sand-stone,  on  which  they  were  working, 
was  exhausted.  I  have  been  told  that  another  layer  of  the 
stone  was  found  to  lie  beneath  the  upper  one,  but  it  has  not 
been  worked. 

39.  The  schoolhouse.  District  No.  3,  on  the  "Green."  Some- 
times called  the  "Mile  Tree."  This  building  was  erected  in 
1880  at  an  expense  of  about  $900.00,  not  including  furniture. 
In  1769,  the  town  voted  that  the  "  Green"  should  be  "  Common 
Land  or  Highway." 

40.  On  west  side  of  street,  and  on  north  side  of  "Tinkham 
Road."  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  (Adams)  Coe.  Former 
owners:  Dea.  David  Adams,  John  Adams,  who  built  the  house 
in  1794.  On  the  east  side,  just  south  of  the  "Tinkham  Road" 
is  the  site  of  a  house  burned  some  years  ago,  formerly  owned 
by  G.  Frank  Adams,  his  father,  George  Adams,  his  father,  John 
Adams. 

41.  On  east  side  of  street.     Now  owned  by  Jerome  Pease. 

Former  owners :  — —  Hendrick, Burr,  Norman  McGregory. 

This  house  is  one  of  those  that  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the 
"Green,"  and  was  moved  to  the  present  site  about  1855. 

42.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Luthera  E. 
Bosworth.  Former  owners:  D.  L.  Bosworth,  James  Richards, 
Ralph  Scripter,  J.  O.  Lincoln, Clark. 

43.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Jennie 
(Foskit)  Rayen.  Former  owners:  Henry  D.  Foskit,  E.  B. 
Bloomer,  Roderick  S.  Merrick,  Noah  Merrick,  Dea.  Chileab 
Merrick,  who  is  said  to  have  built  the  house  for  his  son,  Noah. 

44.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Martha  R. 
Pickens.  Former  owners:  Michael  Mack,  C.  A.  Corbin,  E.  B. 
Bloomer,  Ralph  Glover. 

45.  Now  owned  by   Lee  W.   Rice.     Former  owners:    Mrs. 

Martha  R.  Pickens,  Michael  Mack, Fuller,  John  Holman 

and  others.     Mr.  Rice  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  373 

peaches,  and  has  sent  to  market  more  than  3000  baskets  in 
three  days. 

46.  Owned  by  Lee  W.  Rice,  who  built  the  house  about  1912, 
on  the  site  of  one  burned  about  1875,  which  was  owned  by 
John  Holman. 

47.  Owned  by  Lee  W.  Rice,  who  built  the  house  about  1913, 

on   land   formerly   owned   by   Holman,    Jerome    Pease. 

About  20  or  40  rods  further  south,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
street,  is  the  meadow,  mentioned  in  the  will  of  Dea.  Nathaniel 
Warriner,  as  "Ashe  swamp."  It  was  called  by  that  name  for 
many  years. 

48.  On  east  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Jesse  L.  Rice,  who 
purchased  the  place  about  1868.    Former  owners:  John  Work, 

.    Probably  Moses  Warriner  lived  here,  or  in  a  house  some 

distance  further  to  the  east.  There  is  a  hewed  stone  in  the 
foundation  of  the  house  marked     "M  W" 

Oct.  2         1744 
In  1744,  Moses  Warriner  purchased  lots  15,  16,  17,  18,  in  the 
third  division  of  the  outward  commons,  making  a  total  width 
of  nearly  fifty  rods  north  and  south,  and  those  lots  must  have 
been  in  this  vicinity. 

49.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  J.  Wilbur  Rice, 
who  built  the  house  about  1906,  on  land  purchased  of  Mrs. 
Lizzie  G.  Moore.  When  the  foundations  for  the  piazza  were 
being  dug  a  well  was  uncovered.  There  may  have  been  a 
house  there  much  earlier. 

50.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Lizzie  G. 
Moore,  who  inherited  it  from  her  husband,  Charles  G.  Moore. 
Former  owners:  ,  —  Simons, ,  John  Lincoln. 

Twenty  or  forty  rods  south  of  the  Moore  place,  is  a  branch 
road  leading  eastward  up  the  mountain,  and  the  only  piece  of 
woodland  on  the  entire  length  of  Main  Street.  Passing  through 
the  woodland  about  50  rods,  we  find  the  original  road  leading 
up  the  mountain,  also,  a  few  feet  beyond,  a  road  leading  off  to 


374  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

the  west.  Both  of  these  roads  may  be  called  the  Stebbins  Road, 
in  remembrance  of  the  first  settler  of  that  name  who  located 
on  the  road  which  leads  to  the  eastward. 

On  the  east  side  of  street,  opposite  the  road  leading  to  the 
west,  the  schoolhouse  of  District  No.  3  was  located  for  many 
years,  until  1879,  when,  because  of  the  division  of  the  town,  the 
location  was  changed  to  the  "Green."  The  old  schoolhouse 
was  sold  to  the  Congregational  Society  for  $41.00,  and  was 
moved  by  J.  C.  Cooley  and  others,  with  the  assistance  of  several 
yoke  of  oxen,  to  the  grounds  north  of  the  church,  and  now  con- 
stitutes the  four  most  westerly  ones,  of  the  line  of  horse  sheds 
in  the  rear  of  the  church. 

51.  On  east  side  of  street,  about  50  to  70  rods  south  of  the 
Stebbins  Road,  is  the  old  Mirick  house,  famous  for  its  connec- 
tion with  the  tragic  death  of  Timothy,  only  son  of  "Lef tenant" 
Thomas  Mirick.  (See  History).  The  house  was  built  in  1761. 
It  was  changed  somewhat  in  1910.  It  is  now  occupied  by 
Walter  M.  BHss. 

52.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Ethelbert  Bliss, 
who  inherited  it  from  his  father  about  1895.  Purchased  by 
former  owners:  Albert  Bliss  in  1870,  Porter  Cross,  1849,  Joseph 

Little,  ,  ,   Lieut.   Thomas  Mirick,   previous  to  1761 

Porter  Cross  built  the  present  house  in  1852,  which  was  re- 
modeled by  Mr.  Bliss  in  1909.  The  present  commodious  bam 
was  built  in  1900,  and  is  too  small  for  present  needs.  The  land, 
and  the  old  Mirick  house  on  the  east  side  of  street,  belong  to 
this  place,  which  has  been  called  "Mapleside  Farm"  for  many 
years.  It  is  popularly  known  as  the  birthplace  of  Wilbraham 
peaches.  These  are  the  last  houses  on  Main  Street  north  of  the 
present  town  of  Hampden. 

Main  Street  going  north  from  Soldiers'  Monument 

1.  Public  Watering  Tank.  Nearly  opposite  the  monument  at 
the  entrance  to  Springfield  Street.    This  was  established  by  the 


376  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

town  in  1881,  at  an  expense  of  $407.74.  It  has  been  a  great 
convenience  to  the  pubHc.  It  may  soon  be  moved  a  few  feet 
further  south. 

2.  Store.  On  west  side  of  Main  Street  and  north  side  of  Spring- 
field Street,  now  owned  by  A.  H.  PhiUips.     Former  owners, 

Charles    L.    Hubbard,    George  W.   Ely,  ,   R.   R.  Wright 

R.  Burt, ,  Caleb  Stebbins,  Caleb  S.  Fisk.    This  store  stands 

on  land  purchased  in  1826  by  Caleb  S.  Fisk,  "Trader,"  from 
Dr.  Jesse  W.  Rice,  and  the  same  as  all  of  the  buildings  on  the 
north  side  of  Springfield  Street  over  to  Pole  Bridge  Brook,  is 
on  the  land  formerly  owned  by  Charles  Brewer  and  others. 
(See  No.  4.)  The  upper  part  of  the  building  has  been  used  for 
a  Masonic  Hall  since  1870. 


VIEW  OF  MAIN  STREET. 

Looking  North  from  in  front  of  Soldiers'  Monument. 

First  building  on  the  right,  PostofEce  and  store  of  F.  C.  Newton.     A  little  further 

along,  may  be  seen  the  front  of  original  M.  E.  Church. 

First  on  the  left,  home  of  C.  E.  Peck.     Second,  M.  E.  Parsonage. 

3.     On  east  side  of  street,  store  and  postoffice.    Now  owned  by 
F.  C.  Newton.     Fonner  owners:    F.  A.  Gumey,  heirs  of  C.  M. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  377 

Pease,  Charles  M.  Pease,  who  built  the  store  in  1888  which  has 
been  much  enlarged  by  Mr.  Gumey.  On  the  southwest  comer 
of  the  store  lot,  there  was  a  shoemakers  shop  for  many  years, 
and  in  it,  Lorenzo  Hancock  established  the  postoffice,  when  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  by  the  Lincoln  administration  in 
1861.  I  have  been  there  for  mail.  In  1888  the  building  was 
removed  to  the  northeast  comer  of  the  Virgin  lot,  converted 
into  a  small  bam,  and  is  there  now.  The  west  side  is  painted 
red.  Just  north  of  this  store,  was  the  house  of  Rev.  Charles 
N.  Virgin,  which  he  probably  built  about  1830.  It  remained 
in  his  possession  and  that  of  his  widow  Lydia  Virgin  and  her 
heirs,  until  about  1882.  It  was  much  used  as  a  boarding  place 
by  students  of  the  Academy,  and  was  called  "The  Virgin 
Hollow  Hotel."  It  is  said  that  it  may  have  been  a  "station" 
on  the  "Underground  railroad."  The  house  was  torn  down  a 
few  years  ago. 

4.  On  west  side  of  Main  Street,  about  ten  or  fifteen  rods  north 
of  Springfield  Street,  first  house  north  of  Phillips'  store,  now 
owned  by  Chauncey  E.  Peck  who  built  the  present  house  in 
1893,  on  the  site  of  a  house  which  was  torn  down,  which  is 
supposed  to  have  been  erected  about  1740.  Purchased  by  previ- 
ous owners  as  follows:  Ira  G.  Potter,  1893,  Luther  Markham, 
1869,  Lucius  Stowell,  1864,  Dr.  Jesse  W.  Rice,  1826,  Charles 
Brewer,  1781,  who  kept  an  Inn  there  for  many  years.  He  was 
also  a  cabinet-maker,  Eleazer  Smith,  1770,  Sergt.  Daniel 
Cadwell,  1765,  Samuel  Warner,  by  will  of  his  father  Ebenezer, 
"It  being  the  lot  whereon  the  said  Samuel  now  lives,"  1754, 
Ebenezer  Warner,  1732.  Samuel  Warner,  called  "Clark 
Warner"  kept  the  record  of  births  and  deaths  in  this  precinct, 
(now  Wilbraham)  beginning  "March  ye  15'^  1734,"  to  "August 
28,  1783."  Twelve  days  after  the  last  entr^^,  he  laid  down  his 
pen  forever.  The  record  is  still  in  existence.  The  two  strange 
stones,  in  front  of  the  house,  were  placed  there  in  1899.  They 
were  found  lying  down,  in  low  wet  ground,  a  little  way  up  the 
mountain,  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  near  the  "Lower 
Reservoir"  of  the  Wilbraham  Academy. 


IRA  G.  POTTER. 

Born  at  Willington,  Conn.,  in  181.5.  Came  from  Monson  to  Wilbraham  in  1865.  Served 
as  Selectman,  as  special  County  Commissioner  for  six  years,  as  Representative  in  the 
legislature,  as  special  trial  Justice,  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  42  years,  and,  as  Executor  or 
Administrator,  settled  one  hundred  and  eleven  estates  in  the  Probate  Court.  He  died  in 
1909,  in  his  94th  year. 


HOME  OF  CHAUNCEY  E.  PECK. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  379 

5.  On  east  side  of  street  opposite  Mr.  Peck's  place,  now  owned 
by  Frank  A.  Gumey.     Former  owners:    Ira  G.  Potter,  F.  M. 

Miller,  ,  B.  F.  Squire,  Mrs.  Frost,  Charles  Brewer,  Jr., 

who  was  killed  in  1853  (see  History).  His  widow  "Aunt 
Fanny  Brewer,"  as  she  was  familiarly  called,  lived  here  for 
about  twenty  years  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  had 
many  students  as  boarders  and  roomers.  The  house  was 
built  by  Rev.  John  W.  Hardy  about  1836  while  he  was  Steward 
at  the  Academy. 

6.  On  east  side  of  street,  the  first  house  south  of  the  road 
leading  up  the  mountain,  south  of  the  stone  church,  now  owned 
by  Chauncey  E.  Peck.  This  house  was  the  first  Methodist 
meeting  house  in  Wilbraham,  and  was  built  in  1793-94  and  was 
occupied  by  the  Methodists  until  about  1835.  The  ground  on 
which  the  building  stands,  was  owned  by  Charles  Brewer,  and 
was  leased  by  him  to  the  society  for  the  consideration  that  the 
society  should  pay  him  "one  pepper-corn"  annually  while  they 
used  it.  It  was  purchased  by  different  owners  as  follows: 
Chaimcey  E.  Peck,  1908,  WilHam  W.  Merrick,  1841,  Anson  L. 
Brewer,  1835,  Susan  Brewer,  1829,  Charles  Brewer,  1781, 
Calvin  Brewer,  son  of  Charles,  may  have  owned  the  place 
about  1825,  and  it  was  on  this  land,  and  on  that  on  the  west 
side  of  the  street,  where  he  wished  the  Academy  to  be  located, 
and  was  much  grieved  when  they  selected  another  location. 
The  house  is  now  occupied  by  tenants,  Mrs.  Allis  and  Dr. 
H.  G.  Webber. 

7.  On  west  side  of  street,  opposite  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
meeting  house.  Methodist  parsonage,  which  was  probably 
purchased  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society  about  1855. 
Former  owners:  Capt.  A.  S.  Flagg,  Dr.  Jesse  W.  Rice  and 
others.  (See  No.  4.)  House  built  by  S.  F.  Pickering  about 
1852. 

8.  A  few  rods  east  of  Main  Street,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road    leading    up    the    mountain,    just    south    of    the    stone 


380 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


church.  House  now  owned  by  Miss  Fannie  M.  Merrick. 
Former  owners :  Heirs  of  Henry  and  Horace  Cadwell,  Emeroy 
McGregory,  who  inherited  it  from  his  mother,  Eunice  Rice 
(McGregory)  (Cadwell),  who  inherited  it  from  her  husband, 
James  Rice. 

9.  On  east  side  of  street.  The  Stone  Church  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Society.  Erected  in  1868-69,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$45,000  and  dedicated  in  1870.  The  meeting  house  which  had 
served  the  society  since  1835,  being  moved  to  the  east,  and 
converted  into  a  music  hall  by  the  Wesleyan  Academy.  Just 
north  of  the  stone  church  was  the  schoolhouse  of  District 
No.  4,  erected  about  1842,  burned  about  1869.  Just  north  of 
the  schoolhouse  was  a  house  owned  by  Ezra  White,  which  was 
burned  about  1855. 

10.  On  west  side  of  street,  opposite  the  stone  church.  Now 
owned  by  Fred  W.  Green.  Former  owners:  Chauncey  E.  Peck, 
Sarah  M.  Taylor,  Dr.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Emily  Work,  Porter  Cross 
Rev.  Lorenzo  White,  Ezra  White,  Charles  Warriner. 


HOME  OF  FRED  W.  GREEN. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  381 

11.  Store  of  Charles  N.  Mowry,  first  place  south  of  Rich  Hall. 
Former  owners,  Samuel  F.  Pickering,  who  built  the  buildings 
about  1855,  and  kept  a  store  there  until  about  1870. 

12.  Rich  Hall.  The  Academy  Boarding  House.  Named  in 
honor  of  Isaac  Rich  who  contributed  largely  towards  the 
expense  of  its  erection.  (See  History.)  On  East  side  of  street, 
opposite  the  north  end  of  Rich  Hall,  and  just  south  of  the  road 
leading  up  to  Fisk  Hall,  was  the  home  of  Dr.  John  Stems  in 
1768  and  later.  This  road  was  the  town  road  from  Main  Street 
up  to  the  Ridge  Road,  and  was  laid  out  in  1768.  The  road  was 
changed  to  the  present  location,  about  1824. 

13.  Faculty  Street.  This  road  was  laid  out  by  the  town  in 
1764,  and,  according  to  the  old  record,  is  "to  begin  from  the 
Road  or  Street  that  David  Warriner  lives  upon,  on  the  Main 
Road  leading  to  Samuel  Glovers, — on  the  North  side  of  the  Lot 
originally  laid  out  to  John  Dorchester,  (No.  96)  Extending 
west  across  Cowpen  Meadow  Swamp."  The  road  may  have 
been  relaid  about  1854. 

14.  The  Principal's  House,  Wilbraham  Academy.  The  present 
house  was  built  about  1856  to  replace  the  original  one  which 
was  built  in  1827,  and  which  was  moved  some  rods  to 
the  west  and  converted  into  a  Dormitory  for  the  use  of  the 
students. 

15.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarina  E.  Godfrey.  Inherited  by  the 
will  of  her  nephew,  Edward  H.  Brewer,  who  died  in  Dalton, 
Mass.  in  1911.  Inherited  by  him,  from  his  mother,  Anna  Keyes 
Brewer.  Inherited  by  her  from  her  husband,  Henry  Burt 
Brewer.  Partly  inherited  by  him,  from  his  mother  Lovice 
Brewer.  The  present  place  being  the  widow's  third  set  ofif  to 
her  from  the  estate  of  her  husband,  Henry  Brewer,  who  pur- 
chased it  in  1814  from  Samuel  Hale  and  his  wife,  Mindwell 
Hale.  Former  owners:  William  Buel  and  others.  The  tract 
then  included  original  lots  92,  93,  94,  95  and  was  24  rods,  8  feet, 


382  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

4  inches  wide,  counting  16  feet  to  a  rod,  and  lay  on  both  sides 
of  Main  Street,  and  probably  extended  north  to  the  south  line 
of  the  present  Hurd  farm,  formerly  of  Timothy  Brewer. 

16.  Now  owned  by  J.  Herbert  Starr.  Former  owners:  Mrs. 
Mary  Wheelwright,  Prof.  Charles  M.  Parker,  who  built  the 
present  house  about  1880,  and  was  a  teacher  at  the  Academy 
1870-1885. 

17.  Owned  by  Miss  Louise  Manning  Hodgkins,  who  is  engaged 
in  literary  work,  and  lectures  to  Colleges  or  Clubs,  and  has 
called  the  place  "Fayre  Houres."  Former  owners:  Prof. 
Benjamin  Gill,  who  was  a  teacher  at  the  Academy  for  twenty 
years,  1872-1892.  The  house  was  built  by  James  Luke  about 
1850,  who  lived  there  for  several  years. 

18.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  W.  Chapin.  Former  owners: 
Mrs.  Hattie  F.  Bartlett,  DeWitt  Mowry,  who  inherited  it  from 
his  father.  Nelson  Mowry,  who  lived  there  for  many  years, 
having  purchased  it  from  Samuel  F.  Pickering.  About  the 
time  of  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Mowry  had  a  young 
colored  man  in  his  employ,  who  may  have  been  a  runaway 
slave,  called  I  sack.  A  daughter  of  Calvin  Brewer,  who  lived  on 
Springfield  Street,  just  beyond  the  first  branch  of  Pole  Bridge 
Brook,  (where  Mr.  Chase  lives  now),  had  married  a  southern 
man  named  Newell,  and  lived  in  the  south  for  several  years 
with  slaves  to  attend  on  her,  until  the  death  of  her  husband, 
when  she  returned  to  her  old  home.  Her  sympathy  was  with 
the  South,  and  one  day  she  hung  out  the  confederate  colors. 
Excitement  ran  high  in  the  village,  a  crowd  quickly  gathered, 
rushed  over  to  the  house  and  pulled  the  colors  down.  A  day 
or  two  later,  she  drove  into  Mr.  Mowry's  yard,  and  chanced  to 
see  Isack  standing  there,  and  asked  who  he  was?  Mr.  Mowry 
gave  an  evasive  reply,  and  Isack  heard  Mrs.  Newell  say  "He 
looks  like  one  of  my  boys."  That  night  Isack  disappeared,  and 
was  never  seen  by  any  of  the  Mowry  family  afterwards.  Mrs. 
Newell  had  several  of  those  arrested,   who  were  engaged  in 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


383 


THE  NELSON  MOWRY  HOMESTEAD. 
Now  home  of  Charles  W.  Chapin. 


tearing  down  the  confederate  flag,  and  a  hearing  was  held  in 
the  basement  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  they 
were  all  discharged. 

19.  On  east  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Charles  L.  Hubbard. 
Former  owners:  Samuel  J.  Goodenough,  James  Luke,  who 
built  the  house  about  1850.  There  is  a  story  in  connection  with 
the  building  of  this  house.  One  day  Mr.  Luke  took  some  boards 
up  to  Harris's  saw  mill  in  Ludlow,  to  have  them  cut  up.  When 
the  work  was  done  and  he  was  about  to  pay  the  bill,  he  found 
his  pocketbook  was  missing.  There  was  S6,000  in  it,  and  he 
hurried  back  along  the  road,  asking  all  whom  he  met,  if  they 
had  seen  it.  On  the  Old  Bay  Road,  probably  near  where  the 
electric  road  now  passes  over  the  railroad,  he  met  a  man  who 
looked  like  a  tramp,  and  asked  him.  The  man  replied  that  he 
had,  and  produced  the  pocketbook.  After  finding  the  contents 
were  all  there,  Mr.  Luke  gave  him  $100. 


384 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


20.  On  west  side  of  street,  opposite  the  Hubbard  place.  Now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Nancy  M.  Flagg  who  purchased  the  place  in 
1887.  Former  owners:  Heirs  of  William  E.  Brewer,  William 
E.  Brewer,  Mrs.  Nancy  (Bliss)  Smith,  Abel  Bliss,  who  built  the 
house  about  1845,  for  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Nancy  Smith,  who 
afterwards  married  a  Dr.  Rice  and  settled  in  the  west. 

21.  North  of  the  Flagg  place,  now  owned  by  Theodore 
Gebrault.  Former  owners :  Miss  Harriet  Bliss,  Abel  Bliss,  who 
built  the  present  house  for  his  daughter  Harriet,  about  1846. 
The  piazza  is  a  recent  addition. 

22.  On  east  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Miss  Emily  Wright, 
who  inherited  it  from  her  father  Robert  R.  Wright,  who  pur- 
chased the  place  about  1868.  Former  owners:  Isaac  Plumley. 
The  house  was  built  and  owned  for  a  time  by  a  Mr.  Lane. 

23.  North  of  the  Wright  place,  now  owned  by  William  G. 
Rogers,  who  purchased  it  of  the  town  of  Wilbraham  about  1911. 


HOME  OF  WILLIAM  G.  ROGERS. 


ROBERT  R.  WRIGHT. 

Born  in  South  Wilbraham  in  1811.  Came  to  Wilbraham  Centre  in  1839.  Was  a  mer- 
chant here  for  35  years.  Trustee  of  Wesleyan  Academy  for  60  years.  Died  in  1906,  aged 
95  years. 


386  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

The  building  was  erected  in  1871  for  a  school  house,  and  used 
as  such  until  1906,  when  the  new  schoolhouse  on  Springfield 
Street  was  occupied.  Mr.  Rogers  has  changed  the  appearance 
and  arrangement  of  the  building  very  much. 

24.  On  west  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Calvin  G. 
Robbins.  Former  owners:  Calvin  G.  Robbins,  Mrs.  Agnes 
McCaw,  Mrs.  A.  S.  Curtis.  The  house  was  built  in  1891  by 
Chauncey  E.  Peck. 

25.  On  west  side  of  street,  ten  or  fifteen  rods  from  the  same, 
with  a  lane  or  driveway  leading  to  the  house.  Now  owned  by 
Mrs.  L.  R.  Hurd  and  heirs  of  William  Hurd.  Former  owners; 
Maria  S.  Robbins,  Calvin  G.  Robbins,  Myron  A.  Bliss,  heirs  of 
Timothy  Brewer,  Timothy  Brewer  who  lived  there  for  many 
years  previous  to  1870.  The  place  may  have  been  owned  by 
Gains  Brewer.  The  main  street  formerly  ran  close  to  this 
house,  and  on  up  the  hill  to  the  north,  but  was  changed  to  the 
present  location  about  1840. 

26.  On  east  side  of  street,  ten  or  fifteen  rods  from  the  same, 
with  a  lane  or  driveway  leading  to  it  is  the  house  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Fannie  Coote.  Inherited  from  her  husband  John  R.  Coote 
who  purchased  the  place  about  1894  from  Philip  P.  Potter,  who 
built  the  house  about  1878. 

27.  On  west  side  of  street  opposite  the  carriage  shop.  Now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Edna  Gebo.  Former  owners:  Chauncey  E. 
Peck,  who  built  the  house  about  1888.  Much  of  the  timber  in 
this  house  was  originally  purchased  for  the  Town  Hall,  which 
was  begun  early  in  1886,  but  never  finished. 

28.  On  east  side  of  street,  opposite  the  Gebo  house.  Carriage 
and  blacksmith  shop,  now  owned  by  Theodore  Gebeault  (or 
Gebo).  Former  owners:  Chauncey  E.  Peck  who  built  the  shop 
early  in  1871,  and  carried  on  the  carriage  and  wagon  manufac- 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  387 

turing  business  there  for  34  years.  Much  attention  has  been 
given  to  the  repair  of  automobiles  in  recent  years. 

29.  On  west  side  of  street,  just  north  of  Mrs.  Gebo's  house. 
Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Stephens,  who  inherited  it  from 
her  husband  James  Stephens,  who  inherited  from  his  sister 
Elizabeth  Stephens,  who  inherited  from  her  father  Isaac 
Stephens.    Former  owners :   Olds  and  others. 

30.  Now  owned  by  William  H.  McGuire  Sr.  who  has  been 
engaged  for  several  years  in  supplying  coal  to  the  townspeople, 
handling  about  500  tons  each  year.  Formerly  owned  by  Mrs. 
Sophia  Eustis,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Timothy  Brewer,  and 
very  much  interested  in  the  "Millerite"  movement,  about 
1850.  Ten  or  twenty  rods  north  of  this  house,  on  the  east  side 
of  street,  is  a  narrow  lane,  leading  up  to  what  was  once  called 
"Harmony  Grove,"  where  the  Millerites,  or  Adventists,  as  they 
were  afterwards  called,  held  meetings  in  summer  time.  The 
grove  has  been  cut  down  and  the  land  recently  set  to  peach 
trees.     Now  owned  by  Lee  W.  Rice. 

31.  Up  on  the  hill  just  west  of  the  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Martha  A.  Day,  who  inherited  the  place  from  her  father  Isaac 
Brewer,  who  was  a  son  of  Timothy.  For  many  years,  until 
about  1906,  Mrs.  Day's  husband,  William  H.  Day,  carried  on 
the  cider  manufacturing  business,  in  the  large  building  on  the 
east  side  of  the  street,  opposite  the  house,  on  quite  a  large 
scale,  but  the  business  has  now  been  abandoned.  Fifteen  or 
twenty  rods  north  of  Mrs.  Day's  house,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
hill  and  ten  or  fifteen  rods  west  of  the  street,  is  the  cellar  hole, 
which  marks  the  site  of  what  was  called  the  Hoyt  place,  once 
owned  by  George  Hoyt.      The  house  burned  about  1876. 

The  bam  still  standing,  a  little  further  to  the  west,  was  on 
the  west  side  of  the  original  Main  Street,  which  formerly  went 
over  the  top  of  the  hill,  until  about  1840. 


388 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


MR.  AND   MKS.   NATHAN  C.  RICE. 
(Nathan  C.  was  a  son  of  Mrs.  Nancy  B.  Rice.) 


32.  Continuing  on  down  the  hill  to  the  north,  in  the  track  of 
the  old  road,  which  is  still  plainly  visible,  is  the  small  house  now 
owned  by  James  G.  MacLain,  who  purchased  it  from  Mrs. 
Eliza  Rice  in  1901,  who  inherited  it  from  her  husband,  Nathan 
Rice,  who  inherited  it  from  his  mother  Nancy  Rice,  who  lived 
to  be  101  years  old.  Nancy  Rice  purchased  it  in  1831  from 
Ruhamah  Babcock,  who  purchased  it  in  1814  of  Abel  Bliss,  Jr. 
It  is  reported  that  this  was  the  first  Methodist  parsonage  in 
town.  A  narrow  lane  now  leads  from  the  house  to  the  street. 
On  account  of  the  large  number  of  lilac  bushes,  the  house  has 
been  called  "Lilac  Cottage." 


MRS.   NANCY   (BLISS)   RICE. 

Born  in  Wilbraham  in  1784,  one  of  twelve  children  of  Thomas  and  Temperance  Bliss, 
who  probably  lived  on  the  "Stebbins  Road."  Died  August  10,  1886,  aged  101  years, 
8  months,  and  26  days.  I  think  the  portrait  was  taken  on  her  100th  birthday.  Buried  in 
Adams  Cemetery. 


390 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


33.  On  east  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  (Bliss) 
Gillet,  who  inherited  the  place  from  her  father  John  Wesley 
Bliss,  who  inherited  it  from  his  father  Abel  Bliss  3d,  who 
probably  inherited  it  from  his  father,  Abel  Bliss  2nd,  who  pur- 
chased part  of  lots  65,  66,  67,  68,  69,  70,  71,  72,  and  73  of  Joseph 
Sikes  in  1769,  "bounded  westerly  upon  Nathaniel  Hitchcocks 
land  near  the  Pine  or  Spruce  Island,  and  easterly  upon  the  top 


HOME  OF  MRS.  SARAH  (BLISS)  GILLET. 


of  the  mountain  called   Hunting  Hill,   with  house  and  bam 
thereon." 

Mrs.  Gillet  has  a  large  number  of  old  deeds  and  other  papers, 
some  of  them  dating  back  to  1733.  She  has  the  original  lease 
which  Charles  Brewer  gave  to  the  methodist  society  of  the 
ground  on  which  their  first  meetinghouse  was  erected  in  1794. 
She  also  has  the  contract  which  her  grandfather  made  with 
Calvin  Brewer  and  Wilbur  Fisk,  to  build  the  Principal's  House 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  391 

for  $1490.00,  in  the  year  1827.  Former  owners:  Moses  Bart- 
lett,  Samuel  Bartlett, ,  Jonathan  Day. 

34.  On  west  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  Arthur  F.  Smith. 
Former  owners:   Mrs.  Mary  L.  Lyman,  O.  S.  Firman,  Francis  B. 

Firman,  Hyde,  Abraham  Avery.     Mr.  Avery  used  the 

house  for  a  harness  shop,  and  probably  it  was  here  that  the 
Presbyterian  Saddle  was  made. 

35.  West  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Albert  W.  Torrey. 
Former  owners;  Leon  G.  Bartlett,  L.  J.  Potter,  Ira  G.  Potter, 
who  purchased  it  in  1865.  Dexter  Allis,  L.  M.  Warren,  S.  S. 
Gilman,  B.  C.  Gilman,  Truman  Kimpton,  Abraham  Avery  and 
others.  On  the  hill  east  of  this  place,  a  bungalow  is  being 
erected  by  Frank  C.  Learned. 

36.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Beatrice  L.  Millard.  Former  owners : 
Alden  Knowlton,  his  mother  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Knowlton, 
Nathaniel  Knowlton,  Buell,  John  Jones,  Abraham  Avery,  who 
is  said  to  have  had  his  tannery  a  few  rods  west  of  the  house. 
In  1861,  Charles  Buell  lived  here  with  his  father.  He  was  the 
first  soldier  who  enlisted  from  Wilbraham. 

37.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  John  H.  Reader. 
Former  owners:    Mrs.  F.  A.  Warren,  W.  L.  Collins,  Warren 

Collins,  G.  H.  Calkins,  Mrs.  Wells,  Rice,  Rufus  Jones. 

I  have  been  told  that  there  was  an  acqueduct  to  this  house 
from  a  spring  qmte  a  distance  to  the  east,  and  in  the  time  of 
the  Civil  War,  the  price  of  lead  was  so  high  that  the  pipe  was 
dug  up  and  sold. 

38.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Arthur  A.  Chilson. 
Former  owners:  Alvin  Chilson,  James  Conners,  C.  S.  Niles, 
David  M.  Havens,  William  Jones. 


392 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


OLD  HOMESTEAD  OF  REV.  JOSEPH  A.   MERRILL. 
Now  owned  by  his  granddaughter,  JNIrs.  Rose  (Merrill)  Welch. 


39.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Rose  (Merrill)  Welch.  Fonner 
owners:  Joseph  Merrill,  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Merrill,  who  built  the 
house  probably  about  1830.  He  was  a  presiding  Elder  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  more  than  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Wesleyan  Academy  here,  and 
its  third  treasurer  1832-1842.  His  son  Joseph  Merrill  was 
Librarian  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Sabbath  School  for 
forty  years,  and  it  is  said,  never  missed  a  Sunday.  Three  of 
his  sons  were  ministers,  and  two  of  his  daughters  married 
ministers.  One  of  the  daughters  of  Joseph,  married  Rev. 
Henry  E.  Hempstead.  He  was  a  Chaplain  in  the  Ci\al  War, 
and  died  in  the  South  soon  after  the  battle  of  Fredricksburg, 
Dec.  13,  1862,  and  his  widow  Mrs.  Hempstead,  was  appointed 
postmistress  in  Wilbraham. 

40.  On  east  side  of  street,  opposite  Mrs  Welch's  place.  Now 
owned  by  heirs  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  J.  Merrill.    Former  owners: 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


393 


REV.  NATHANIEL  J.  MERRILL. 

Died  in  1912,  aged  95  years.  The  oldest  man  in  Wilbraham  at  that  time, 
and  the  oldest  member  of  the  New  England  Methodist  Episcopal  Confer- 
ence.    He  was  a  son  of  Rev  Joseph  A.  Merrill. 


Rev.  Nathaniel  J.  Merrill,  Joseph  Merrill,  who  built  the  present 
house  about  1850. 

41.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Thomas  J.  Murphy 
who  built  the  present  house  about  1896,  on  land  purchased  of 
W.  L.  Collins. 

42.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  William  V.  Patch. 
Former  owners:   Mrs.  Ellen  (Munsell)  Ricker,  who  inherited  it 


394 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


HOME  OF  ANNIS  MERRILL. 
Former  home  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  J.  Merrill. 


from  her  father,  Willard  F.  Munsell,  who  purchased  it  in  1859, 
and  Hved  there  47  years.  Luther  Fay  purchased  it  in  1857, 
Robert  R.  Wright  in  1852,  Levi  BHss  who  inherited  it  from  his 
father,  Levi  BHss,  who  probably  built  the  house  about  1772. 
For  in  that  year  he  bought  of  the  town,  the  west  half  of  the 
Ministry  Lot  in  the  Second  Division,  Lot  No.  38,  which  was 
37  rods,  4  feet  wide,  16  feet  to  the  rod,  beginning  at  Main  Street 
and  extending  west  to  the  Inward  Commons.  This  house  was 
the  home  of  Gordon,  Leonard  and  Asenath  Bliss,  who  with 
three  other  young  people  were  drowned  in  Nine  Mile  Pond, 
April  29,  1799,  and  the  bodies  of  the  first  five  who  were  recovered 
from  the  waters  were  brought  to  this  house. 


43.     Now  owned  by  A.  Linden  Bell.    Former  owners; 
H.  Cooley  who  built  the  house  in  1886. 


Merrick 


44.  Now  owned  by  William  A.  Mowry.  Former  owners: 
Henry  BHss,  Frank  Rindge,  Joseph  A.  Parker,  who  built  the 
house  in  1886. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


395 


45.  Now  owned  by  Robert  P.  Trask.  Former  owners:  Henry 
La  Broad,  Henry  Cutler,  Lorenzo  Bliss  who  built  the  house 
probably  about  1810. 

46.  Now  owned  by  the  Cutler  Co.  who  built  the  house  about 
1880,  on  land  formerly  owned  by  Lorenzo  Bliss.  The  house  is 
now  occupied  by  Benj.  Chase,  and  G.  D.  Keith  who  conducts  a 
small  store. 

47.  On  east  side  of  street,  now  owned  by  heirs  of  Dennis 
Powers,  Dennis  Powers,  who  built  the  house  about  1881. 


SCHOOLHOUSE,  DISTRICT  NO.  8. 


48.  School  House  of  District  No.  8.  Built  by  the  town  in 
1905  at  a  total  cost  of  a  little  more  than  $5,000,  to  replace  one 
that  was  burned  on  the  same  ground  which  was  built  in  1879  at 
a  total  expense  of  $2,411.70. 


396  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

49.  On  west  side  of  street,  near  old  Bay  Road.  Church  of  St. 
CeciUa,  belonging  to  the  Catholic  denomination.  Erected  in 
1890,  on  land  purchased  from  Warren  L.  Collins.  Just  north 
of  this  church  the  original  Boston  Road  crosses  our  Main 
Street. 

50.  On  east  side  of  street.  Buildings  owned  by  J.  M.  Perry, 
and  used  for  a  garage.  A  few  rods  north  of  this  place,  the 
Main  street  turns  east  and  enters  the  Boston  Road,  the  places 
on  which  will  be  given  under  another  heading. 


West  Street.     Beginning  at  south  line  or  the  town  and 

GOING    NORTHWARD    TO    LuDLOW 

1.  Near  the  southwest  comer  of  the  town,  Robert  W.  Day  of 
Springfield  has  recently  purchased  about  170  acres  of  land  and 
has  commenced  setting  it  to  young  white  pine  trees.  About 
fifty  thousand  have  already  been  set,  and  it  is  intended  to 
increase  the  number  to  150,000  in  two  or  three  years.  A  few 
hundred  red  pines  have  been  set  for  ornamental  purposes. 
Some  of  the  former  owners  of  the  land  were,  James  Phelps, 
Lyman  Warner,  William  Leach,  Isaac  Leach  and  others. 

Robert  O.  Morris  of  Springfield  also  has  about  25  acres  in 
that  vicinity.  Former  owners:  S.  B.  Warner,  Wm.  Leach, 
Isaac  Leach.  Mrs.  Laura  Crane  of  East  Longmeadow  has 
about  30  acres  near  there.  Inherited  from  her  husband, 
Sylvester  Crane,  Jr.,  who  inherited  from  his  father,  Sylvester 
Crane  Sr.,  who  inherited  from  Ziba  Crane,  who  purchased  of 
Moses  Burt  in  1833.    There  are  no  houses  on  any  of  this  land. 

2.  About  one  mile  north  of  the  south  line  of  our  town  is  the 
first  house  on  West  Street.      Now  owned  by  State  of   Mass. 

Former   owners:     John    H.    Reader,  Wicker,    Benjamin 

Tilden. 

On  both  sides  of  the  street  at  this  point  is  the  Mass.  Game 
Farm,  established  by  the  Commission  on  Fisheries  and  Game, 
in  1912. 


'>fJF.«!t«S'^.  'A  ^-w^m-  %  'S^g^cmm 


PL, 


398 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


About  142  acres  of  land  have  been  purchased  of  different 
owners,  and  the  following  varieties  of  game  are  raised,  Wood, 
Black  and  Mallard  Duck,  Wild  Turkey,  Reeves,  Ringneck 
Pheasant,  and  Quail.  The  duck  and  pheasant  are  now  released 
to  go  free. 


HOMESTEAD  OF  FRANCIS  E.  CLARK. 
Now  home  of  his  son,  Edgar  C.  Clark. 


3.  West  Street  crosses  the  Tinkham  Road  at  the  four  corners, 
formerly  called  "Wessons  Corner."  House  on  west  side  of 
street.  Now  owned  by  heirs  of  T.  H.  O'Leary.  Former  owners: 
Chauncey  E.  Peck,  Thedore  Gebo,  J.  L.  S.  Wesson,  Roswell 
Phelps,  who  probably  settled  there  about  1822. 


4.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  E.  A.  Gleason. 
Former  owners:  C.  Langdon,  Mrs.  Ella  (Clark)  Shaw,  Francis 
E.  Clark,  Dea.  Horace  Clark. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  399 

5.  On  west  side  of  street,  and  15  or  20  rods  north  of  Pole 
Bridge  Brook.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  James  S.  Sherwin.  Former 
owners:  Dea.  Henry  Clark,  Dea.  Horace  Clark  who  purchased 
from  Alvin  and  William  Vining  in  1842. 

6.  Now  owned  by  Edgar  C.  Clark,  who  inherited  it  from  his 
father  Dea.  Francis  E.  Clark.  Former  owners:  Dea.  Horace 
Clark, Alden. 

7.  Now  owned  by  Gardiner  W.  Files.  Former  owners :  Frank 
Learned,  M.  S.  Blodgett,  Charles  C.  Learned,  Francis  J.  Warner, 
Samuel  Warner  and  others.  A  little  north  of  this  house  was  a 
small  house  which  burned. 

8.  On  east  side.  House  built  in  1913  by  William  Goodrich, 
on  land  purchased  from  R.  J.  Sackett. 

9.  At  the  four  comers  where  Springfield  Street  crosses  West 
Street.  On  west  side  of  street  and  south  of  Springfield  Street. 
Now  owned  by  Edmund  W.  Jones.  Former  owners:  Reuben 
Jones,  Lyman  Warner,  Vashni  Warner. 

10.  On  west  side  of  street,  and  north  side  of  Springfield  Street. 
Now  owned  by  Mrs.  James  C.  Cooley,  who  inherited  it  from 
Mrs.  Lucinda  (Brewer)  Cooley.  Former  owners:  Dwight  A. 
Brewer,  Andrew  Brewer,  Gains  Brewer  (?). 

11.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Miss  E.  Louise 
Brewer.  Former  owners:  C.  A.  Brewer,  D.  A.  Atchinson, 
G.  S.  Atchinson,  Benoni  Atchinson. 

12.  On  west  side  of  street.  Schoolhouse,  District  No.  1., 
erected  in  1870  to  replace  one  that  had  become  outgrown. 
The  school  lot  was  very  much  enlarged  at  that  time. 

13.  A  little  north  of  schoolhouse.  Now  owned  by  Miss  E. 
Louise  Brewer.     Former  owners:    Dwight  A.  Brewer,  D.  A, 


400 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Atchinson,  D.  L.  Atchinson,  Nathaniel  Atchinson,  probably 
Benoni  Atchinson. 

14.  Now  owned  by  F.  A.  Bodurtha.  Former  owners:  James 
Richards,  D.  A.  Atchinson,  Electa  Atchinson,  D.  L.  Atchinson, 
Gilling  Atchinson,  Benoni  Atchinson,  Jr.,  Benoni  Atchinson, 
Sr.,  who  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  street,  near  where  the 
well  is  now,  about  1745.  His  son  Joshua  was  baptised  in  the 
church  here  in  1746.  The  place  remained  in  the  possession  of 
the  Atchinson  family  for  nearly  150  years. 


SCHOOLHOUSE,   DISTRICT  NO.   1. 


15.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Lena  S. 
White.  Former  owners:  John  Duteau,  Arthur  F.  Smith,  Mrs. 
Emogene  (Atchinson)  Wheelock,  D.  A.  Atchinson,  D.  L. 
Atchinson,  Ethan  Warriner,  Ezra  Barker. 

16.  On  west  side.  Now  owned  by  Henry  M.  Bliss  and  Charles 
B.  Hitchcock.  Former  owners:  Henry  M.  and  Myron  A. 
Bliss,  who  inherited  it  from  their  father  Samuel  M.  Bliss,  who 
moved  here  in  1847,  Richard  D.  Hudson,  John  Russell,  Ebenezer 
Warner,  Benj.  Warriner.     There  are  brownstone  quarries  on 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  401 

the  west  part  of  the  farm,  which  were  formerly  worked  by 
Hudson,  the  stone  being  sent  to  Worcester  and  Springfield. 
There  is  a  fine  view  of  the  mountains  from  this  place  and  it  is 
appropriately  called,  "Mountain  View  Farm." 

17.  On  east  side  of  street.     Now  owned  by  Godeck. 

Former  owners:  H.  H.  Burbank,  Ephraim  Fuller,  Jr.,  Ephraim 
Fuller,  Sr.  The  latter  had  a  reputation  for  telling  big  stories. 
Once  he  was  shingling  his  bam  and  carried  1000  shingles  up 
the  ladder.  When  he  stepped  off  the  ladder  onto  the  staging, 
the  staging  broke,  and  he  felt  himself  going  down,  but  he 
caught  hold  of  the  lower  course  of  shingles,  which  were  nailed 
to  the  roof,  with  his  teeth,  and  held  on  until  a  ladder  was  put 
up  to  rescue  him.  Another,  which  I  heard  about  fifty-five  years 
ago.  He  was  out  hunting  wild  pigeons  and  started  a  large  flock. 
He  fired,  swinging  his  gun  sideways  as  he  pulled  the  trigger. 
His  aim  was  a  fraction  too  low.  He  did  not  kill  a  single  pigeon, 
but  he  picked  up  two  bushels  of  pigeons  legs  that  his  shot  had 
cut  off.  There  was  a  brick  in  the  chimney  of  this  house  marked 
1779. 

18.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Miss  E.  Louise 
Brewer.    Former  owners:    D.  A.  Brewer,  Henry  Fuller. 

19.  Now  owned  by  Nichols  Rauh.  Former  owners:  Edwin 
C.  Powell,  Edward  Evans,  Mrs.  Myra  (Kent)  Underwood, 
Harvey  Kent,  Henry  Fuller. 

20.  A  small  house  just  north,  belonging  to  the  same  place 
and  used  for  a  tenement. 

21.  Now    owned    by    Clarence    E.    Pease.      Former   owners: 

Damon,  Cornelius  White,  W.  W.  Amadon,  Hiram  Brewer, 

Lee  Rice. 

22.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Dr.  James  M. 
Pease,  who  inherited  from  his  father,  Loren  C.  Pease.  Former 
owners:   Frank  Chaffe,  E.  Chaffe. 


402  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

23.  Onwest  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  William  N.  Wallace. 
Former  owners,  Kate  B.  Kallman,  Patrick  Quinlan,  who  built 
the  house  in  1870.  He  had  previously  lived  in  a  small  house  on 
the  east  side  of  the  street,  a  little  way  up  on  the  small  hill. 

24.  "Peggy's  Dipping  Hole"  Road,  leading  off  to  the  west. 
Just  north  of  this  road  is  the  cellar  which  marks  the  site  of  the 
home  of  E.  Russell  Warner,  which  was  burned  many  years 
ago. 

25.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  John  Swain. 
Former  owners:  Mrs.  Ellen  Kennedy,  E.  M.  Butterfield, 
Monroe  Pease,  James  C.  Pease. 

26.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Ward  A.  Allyn, 
who  built  the  house  about  1900,  in  an  orchard  formerly  on  the 
estate  of  James  C.  Pease. 

27.  Now  owned  by  Gilbert  H.  Pease,  who  inherited  it  from  his 
father,  James  C.  Pease,  who  had  16  children  bom  to  him  in  the 
house  which  formerly  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  house. 

28.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Charles  W.  Hardy 
who  purchased  it  about  1908,  of  Dr.  H.  O.  Pease,  who  built  the 
house  about  1901  on  land  inherited  from  his  mother.  Formerly 
owned  by  James  C.  Pease. 

29.  On  east  side,  some  rods  from  the  street.  Now  owned  by 
Seymour  Holland.  Former  owners:  Dr.  H.  O.  Pease,  who 
built  the  house,  Emeline  Pease,  James  C.  Pease. 

30.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Philip  Babineau. 
Former  owners:  Joseph  Frederick,  E.  J.  Gendreau,  John  Trask, 
Henry  Trask,  who  lived  there  for  many  years  previous  to 
about  1870. 

31.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Robert  Welch. 
Former  owners:  Mary  Welch,  Patrick  Welch,  Henry  Robbins, 
M.  Langdon,  who  built  the  house  about  1830. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  403 

32.  On    east    side   of   street.      Now   owned   by    Hermenigile 

Dutille.      Former   owners:    Peon,    Michael    Fitspatrick, 

William  Langdon, Langdon. 

33.  On  east  side  of  the  street.  Now  owned  by  William  Fitz- 
gerald. Former  owners:  Timothy  Powers,  James  Powers,  who 
built  the  house,  a  little  north  of  the  site  formerly  occupied  by 
the  blacksmith  shop  of  J.  P.  Streeter.  The  shop  was  discon- 
tinued about  1875. 

34.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  James  P.  McDon- 
ald. Former  owners:  Mrs.  Minerva  (Langdon)  Streeter,  her 
father,  Walter  Langdon,  his  father,  Capt.  Paul  Langdon,  who 
probably  settled  here,  from  South  Wilbraham  previous  to  1800. 
About  1863,  in  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  Walter  Langdon  went 
to  the  blacksmith  shop  one  morning  to  hear  the  war  news. 
The  Union  forces  had  gained  a  victory.  He  became  excited, 
and  died  in  a  few  hours.    He  was  nearly  ninety  years  old. 

35.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Charles  Barcome. 
Former  owners:   James  Powers,  Hanson  Langdon. 

36.  Down  the  hill  and  past  the  little  brook  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  on  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  E.  Towne.  Former 
owners:   Alburtus  Langdon,  Hanson  Langdon. 

37.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  John  B.  Ebright. 
Former  owners:  J.  Poduski,  John  Trask.  Some  40  or  60  rods 
north  of  this  place.  West  Street  crosses  the  new  section  of  the 
Boston  Road  which  was  constructed  in  1896,  making  a  great 
improvement  over  former  conditions. 

38.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  William  Lapine 
who  built  the  house  about  1908. 

39.  On  east  side  of  street.  Owned  by  Michael  Powers  estate. 
Former  owners:   Michael  Powers,  William  Stevens, Jenks. 

40.  On  west  side,  in  the  triangle  made  by  the  new  and  old 
Boston  Roads  is  an  old  cemetery,  in  which  a  stone  tells  of  the 
death  of  Roswell  P.  Stevens,  who  was  killed  at  the  original 


404  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Wilbraham  depot  August  10,  1840,  "By  falling  across  a  Rail 
Road  Track,  Aged  23."  In  the  record  of  deaths  the  first  name 
is  given  as  "Parmele." 

41.  On  west  side,  very  close  to  the  railroad.  Now  owned  by 
John  B.  Dumane.  Former  owner,  W.  Stevens.  At  this  point 
West  Street  formerly  crossed  the  railroad  at  a  grade  crossing. 
In  1883  the  course  of  the  road  was  changed  a  little  way  to  the 
east,  an  underpass  constructed,  and  the  grade  crossing  abolished. 
The  Boston  Road  formerly  ran  on  the  south  side  of  the  rail- 
road, some  50  or  80  rods  further  to  the  east,  and  crossed  there 
at  a  grade  crossing  near  where  the  Wilbraham  station  was  first 
established,  which  station  was  moved  to  the  present  Oak  Street, 
in  1851. 

West  Street  continued.  The  following  places  are  all  north 
of  the  railroad  in  the  northwest  comer  of  the  town.  After 
going  through  the  underpass  and  entering  the  original  road. 

1.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  John  Craig,  who 
built  the  house  in  1901. 

2.  Now  owned  by  Mrs  Mary  McFarland.  The  house  was 
erected  in  1901. 

3.  Now  owned  by  Edward  Macdowell  who  built  the  house  in 
1909. 

4.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  George  F.  Perry 
who  built  it  in  1895. 

5.  Now  owned  by  Paul  L.  Levigne.  Former  owners:  Richard 
La  Fountain,  who  built  the  house  in  1888. 

6.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  David  Ogilvie. 
Former  owners :   Michael  Leahy,  Horace  Stevens. 

7.  On  east  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Paul  L.  Levigne 
who  built  the  house  in  1914. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


405 


8.     On  east  side  of  street.     Now  owned  by  Frank  A.  Brodeur. 

Former  owners:   La  Fountain.     Mr.  Brodeur  is  employed 

in  the  wholesale   department   of  the   Ludlow   Manufacturing 
Associates. 


9.     Now  owned  by  Cyrille  Brodeur. 
La  Fountain. 


Former  owner:    Joseph 


SCHOOLHOUSE,  DISTRICT  NO.  2.     "THE  PINES.' 
"In  action." 


10.  On  west  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Michael  Leahy. 
Former  owners:  James  A.  Langdon,  Horace  Stevens. 

11.  On  east  side  of  street.  Schoolhouse,  District  No.  2.  which 
was  erected  in  1886  at  a  total  expense  of  $1954.00.  Because  of 
the  pine  trees  surrounding  the  location  it  is  appropriately 
called  "The  Pines."  I  think  that  all  of  the  other  places  on  this 
street,  to  the  Springfield  line,  belong  to  the  Ludlow  Manufac- 
turing Associates,  which  have  about  60  houses  in  this  vicinity 
which  are  not  entered  here  individually. 


406  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

On  street  leading  northeasterly  from  the  underpass  towards 
the  Chicopec  River,  sometimes  called  Bridge  Street. 

1.  On  west  side  of  street.    Now  owned  by  George  Perry. 

2.  On  east  side.    Now  owned  by  Lexyebert  Gagne. 

About  30  or  50  rods  east  of  Bridge  Street,  so  called,  is  an  old 
road  leading  northerly  from  the  old  Boston  road  towards 
Chicopee  river.  Now,  sometimes  called  River  road.  On  the 
west  side  of  this  road  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  old  Boston 
road,  is  the  site  of  the  Elisha  Fuller  tavern  which  was  moved 
to  Indian  Orchard  station  (now  called  Oak  Street)  in  1851. 
There  are  now  two  houses  on  this  road. 

1.  On  west  side.     Now  owned  by  — - — . 

2.  Now  owned  by  Peter  Burdon.  Former  owners:  William 
Gorven,  Ludlow  Mfg.  Co.,  L.  H.  Brigham,  Matthew  Welch. 
Fifty  years  ago  this  place  was  known  as  the  "Red  House." 

There  is  a  short  street  leading  from  the  River  Road  west  to 
Bridge  Street,  on  which  three  houses  have  been  recently  built, 
all  on  the  south  side. 

1.  Going  west  from  the  River  Road.  Now  owned  by  Amos 
Lapine. 

2.  Now  owned  by  Louis  Pellerin. 

3.  Now  owned  by  Charles  Lapine. 

The  other  houses  in  this  vicinity  are  on  the  Boston  Road. 

Ridge  Road  or  Mountain  Road 

This  road  formerly  ran  north  and  south  nearly  the  entire 
length  of  the  original  Wilbraham.  That  part  of  it  which  runs 
south  from  the  four  comers,  at  the  top  of  the  mountain,  where 
the  Monson  Road  crosses  it,  was  discontinued  as  a  highway, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  407 

about  1870,  and  called  a  "Bridle  Path."  This  south  part  was 
laid  out  by  the  town  in  1769,  in  consequence  of  a  "Petition  by 
Joseph  Jones  to  lay  a  Road  back  side  of  Bauld  Mountain." 
It  commenced  near  what  is  now  called  "Burleighs  comer,"  as 
follows:  "Beginning  at  Black  oak  staddle  on  the  Middle  Road 
about  40  rods  north  of  Serg.  Kings  fence,"  then  north  in  all 
330  rods,  "to  a  stake  and  stones  the  east  side  of  Joseph  Jones 
house,  then  as  the  path  now  goes  the  east  side  of  Joseph  Masons 
house" — then  past  the  west  side  of  Perminas  (?)  Kings  house, 
"then  north  by  east  the  west  side  of  Rattle  Snake  Peak,  so 
called,  to  the  Road  formerly  laid  out  by  Springfield."  (Monson 
Road.)  So  it  appears  there  were  three  houses  on  that  road  in 
1769,  where  there  are  none  now.  The  road  continues  on  to  the 
north,  until  it  enters  the  Old  Bay  Road,  now  called  Maple 
Street  at  North  Wilbraham.  I  have  called  this  road  Ridge 
Road  because  the  name  is  so  descriptive  of  the  locality.  For 
about  one  mile  north  of  the  Monson  Road,  there  are  no  houses 
now,  although  several  cellar  holes,  along  the  road,  show  where 
there  were  houses  once. 

Among  them,  are  the  colonial  homes  of  Cadwell,  Webster, 
Chapin,  who  is  said  to  have  brought  the  first  rat  to  town,  in  a 
sack  of  wool  purchased  in  Rhode  Island.  Ezra  Barker,  Town 
Clerk  for  many  years,  lived  on  this  road. 

Some  of  these  cellar  holes,  near  the  four  corners,  mark  the 
place  where  the  men  went  in  the  night  time,  to  dig  for  "Cap. 
Kidd's  Gold,"  about  1850. 

1.  A  little  more  than  one  mile  north  of  where  the  Ridge  Road 
crosses  the  Monson  Road,  some  50  to  70  rods  east,  is  the  first 
house  on  this  road.  Now  owned  by  George  W.  Ely,  or  by  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Edith  (Ely)  Patterson.  Former  owners:  An- 
drew  Anderson,    ,    Solomon    Brewer,    D.    L.    Atchinson, 

,  Judah  Ely  probably  lived  here  about  1810. 

2.  Some  30  or  50  rods  east  of  the  Ely  place  is  another  house, 
now  owned  by  George  W.  Ely,  who  built  it  about  1900.  Mr. 
Ely  owns  several  large  tracts  of  land  in  this  vicinitv. 


408 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


3.  On  west  side  of  road.  The  old  stone  chimney  still  standing 
marks  the  site  of  the  Webster  house.  The  place  is  now  owned 
by  George  W.  Ely.  Former  owners:  Orrin  Webster,  Moses  K. 
Bartlett,  S.  Bartlett.  Just  north  of  this  chimney  is  the  road 
leading  down  to  Wilbraham  centre. 

4.  On  east  side  of  road  opposite  the  old  chimney.  House, 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Edith  (Ely)  Patterson.  Former  owners: 
Roswell  P.  Mills,  Orrin  Webster. 


THE  FIRST  BUNGALOW  IN  WILBRAHAM. 
Now  owned  by  Miss  EfEe  L.  Morgan. 

5.  On  west  side  of  road.  Monus  Konus  Bungalow.  Now 
owned  by  Miss  Efifie  L.  Morgan.  Former  owners:  Mrs.  W.  F. 
Morgan.  Erected  in  1910  on  land  formerly  owned  by  Charles 
Tupper,  Jennie  E.  T.  Dowe,  R.  P.  Mills,  J.  Duncan,  Jonathan 
Ely.  This  was  the  first  bungalow  erected  on  the  mountain. 
About  1850,  a  small  shoemakers  shop  stood  near,  and  that 
business  was  carried  on  by  Jonathan  Ely  and  his  son  Dixon. 

6.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  F. 
Morgan.    Former  owners:   William  B.  Morgan,  Jonathan  Ely. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


409 


A  little  south  of  the  Morgan  place  is  the  site  of  the  Ely  house 
which  was  burned  about  1888. 

7.  On  west  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Louis  G.  Stacy. 
Former  owners:  George  W.  Tupper,  William  Tupper,  Warren 
Collins,  Capt.  James  Shaw,  who  commanded  the  coinpany  that 
responded  to  the  Bennington  alarm  in  1777.  The  house  for- 
merly stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  where  the  bam  now  is. 
It  is  said,  that  Warren  Collins  and  his  wife  cared  for  Captain 
and  Mrs.   Shaw  in  their  last  days.     He  died  in  1831.     Mr. 


SCHOOLHOUSE.  DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

Standing  on  the  site  of  the  second  schoolhouse  which  was  erected  in  the  town. 
Ezra  Barker  was  a  teacher  here. 


"Master" 


Stacy  is  the  seventh  generation  of  the  Stacy  family  that  have 
lived  in  town. 

8.  West  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Herbert  E.  Tupper. 
Former  owners :  Edwin  L.  Tupper,  who  purchased  the  place  in 
1842  of  William  Bliss,  it  being  part  of  the  original  Bliss  farm. 
Mr.  Tupper  is  the  rural  mail  carrier  on  the  R.  F.  D.  route  and 
is  familHarly  called  "Bert"  by  those  whom  he  serves.    On  the 


410  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

east  side  of  the  road  is  the  site  of  a  house  formerly  the  home  of 
Mr.  B.  F.  Green,  and  of  his  parents. 

9.  On  east  side  of  road,  and  on  north  side  of  the  road,  leading 
eastward  to  East  Street.  Schoolhouse  of  District  No.  5.  This 
schoolhouse  formerly  stood  about  one-half  mile  further  north, 
and  was  moved  to  the  present  location  in  1881. 

10.  On  west  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Edith  Miniter 
Former  owners:  John  Hitchcock,  John  Thayer,  Samuel  M. 
Bliss,  J.  Bliss.  The  house  was  built  in  1830  by  Samuel  M.  Bliss. 
It  is  said  that  the  town's  poor  were  kept  in  this  house  about 
1845-50.  A  very  tall  oak  tree  stood  near  this  house,  and  was  sold 
by  John  Thayer,  about  1857,  for  $100,  to  make  a  mast  for  a  ship. 

11.  East  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Thomas  Lyons.  For- 
mer owner:   D.  N.  Haskell. 

12.  On  east  side.  Now  owned  by  Benj.  F.  Green.  Former 
owners:  Miss  Angeline  Woodward  and  her  sister  Jerusha 
Woodward,  Dea.  Aaron  Woodward.  This  place  was  known  for 
many  years  as  "The  Deacon  Woodward  place."  Deacon 
Woodward  settled  here,  probably  about  the  year  1803.  In  the 
records  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  is  this  entry,  "Jan. 
1..  1804,  Rev.  Aaron  Woodward  &  his  wife  were  admitted  by 
letter  from  the  church  of  Christ  in  Wilten  (?)  Norwalk  Conn." 
Elizabeth,  his  daughter,  was  bom  here  April  — ,  1804.  Deacon 
Woodward  died  February  21,  1840,  aged  79  years.  He  never 
served  here  as  a  pastor,  but  was  a  deacon  for  many  years. 
There  is  a  stone  in  the  underpinning  of  the  house  marked  1769. 
Probably  Oliver  Bliss  lived  here  at  that  time. 

13.  On  east  side.  Now  owned  by  T.  D.  or  Charles  S.  Potter. 
Former  owners:  Miss  Abbie  Spear  who  inherited  it  from  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Antoinette  (Bliss)  Spear.  John  Bliss,  Oliver 
Bliss,  Ensign  Abel  Bliss.  It  is  now  used  for  a  suburban  home. 
(See  History.) 

Mr.  Potter  has  built  on  this  property,  in  the  last  two  years, 
three  or  four  bungalows,  some  70  rods  west  of  the  road. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  411 

14.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  William  Whitney. 
The  house  was  built  by  Lawrence  Wrinkle  about  1883  and 
being  visible  at  quite  a  distance  from  the  east,  is  sometimes 
called  "The  Lighthouse." 

A  little  north  of  this  place,  the  Ridge  Road  enters  what  was 
formerly  the  "Old  Bay  Road,"  and  turns  to  the  west,  and 
continues   along   what   is   now   called   Maple   Street,   until   it 


A  RARE  SCENE. 
Taken  on  East  Street,  just  over  the  line  in  the  present  town  of  Hampden. 

enters  the  original  Main  Street,  near  the  garage  of  J.  M.  Perry. 
(See  Maple  Street.) 

East  Street 

In  1767,  the  town  "new  laid  the  Third  Road  in  this  Town 
(so  called)  as  follows."  "Beginning  near  the  south  side  of 
Jabes  Hendricks  Lot — thence  northerly."  They  ran  the  line 
from  one  tree  to  another.     (In  all  81   trees  are  mentioned.) 


412  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Also,  "near  Caleb  Stebbins  Bam — near  Daniel  Cadwells 
House — to  a  White  Rock  on  the  north  side  of  Twelve  Mile 
Brook — to  a  Black  Rock  North  of  Stebbins  Mill — then  to  the 
Bay  Road  by  a  Pine  Tree."  It  is  interesting  to  recall  these 
ancient  boundaries.  The  White  Rock  is  still  there.  It  is  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road  and  is  about  four  or  five  feet  in  diameter. 

East  Street,  beginning  at  Hampden  line  and  going  north. 


HOME  OF  MRS.  LEOLA  B.  EDSON. 

1.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Leola  (Blan- 
chard)  Edson.  Former  owners:  Mrs.  Sophronia  (Calkins) 
Blanchard,  Mrs.  Lucia  (Day)  Calkins,  A.  Jackson  Blanchard, 
Susan  Lamson,  Shadrach  Thayer,  Abisha  Blanchard,  Eleazer 
Bishop,  Peter  Walbridge,  1806,  Moses  Hancock,  Amos  Beebe, 
Judah  Wiley,  1793.  First  cultivated  strawberries  in  this  neigh- 
borhood were  raised  by  Shadrach  Thayer. 

2.  On  west  side.  Now  owned  by  John  Francovitz.  Former 
owners:  Wm.  A.  Rice,  Mrs.  Mary  (Carpenter)  Rice,  her  father, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


413 


Dr.  Wm.  Carpenter,  Capt.  John  Carpenter,  Moses  Hancock, 
Jr.,  Moses  Hancock,  Mrs.  Wealthy  (Bishop)  Hancock  was  the 
"yarb  docter"  of  the  neighborhood,  and  her  "Bee  Balm" 
grows  there  beside  the  wall  today  as  it  did  one  hundred  years 
ago. 

3.  Now  owned  by  Kamey  Netupski.  Former  owners :  Sophia 
Seagal,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Blanchard,  A.  Jackson  Blanchard,  Abishia 


SCHOOLilUUSK,  DISTRICT  i\U.   7. 
The  only  district  keeping  its  original  number. 


Blanchard,    Moses    Hancock,    Gilligan,    Ithamar    Bliss, 

Nathan  Mack. 

This  was  among  the  first  places  in  town  purchased  by  persons 
of  the  Jewish  nationality,  about  1902.  All  the  residents  agree 
that  they  were  good  neighbors,  but  they  only  remained  a  short 
time. 

4.     Now  owned  by  Kamey  Netupski.    Former  owners :  Sophia 
Seagal,   Mrs.   A.   J.   Blanchard,   and  W.   A.   Mowry,   Sophia 


414  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Knowlton,  Moses  Hancock,  Jr.,  Webster,  Gilligan, 

Carpenter.     The  house  was  burned  some  years  ago,  but 

some  of  the  other  buildings  are  still  standing.  This  place  was 
known  for  a  long  time  as  the  Dennis  Knowlton  place. 

5.  About  one-quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  Knowlton  place 
the  street  crosses  the  Monson  Road.  On  the  west  side  of  the 
street,  and  on  north  side  of  Monson  Road  is  the  Glendale 
Cemetery.     Probably  established  previous  to  1800. 

6.  Opposite  the  cemetery  on  east  side  of  street  is  the  Glendale 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was  erected  in  1868. 
The  Duty  Partridge  house  stood  many  years  ago,  just  north  of 
the  site  of  the  church. 

7.  On  east  side.  Now  owned  by  Albert  L.  Farr  who  built  the 
house  in  1913,  on  land  purchased  of  his  father,  James  H.  Farr. 
This  is  the  first  new  house  built  in  this  vicinity  for  several  years. 

8.  On  east  side  of  road.  Schoolhouse,  District  No.  7.  For- 
merly called  the  Chapin  District. 

9.  On  west  side.  Now  owned  by  James  H.  Farr.  Former 
owners:  Wm.  P.  Clark,  George  Edson,  Isaac  N.  Chapin, 
Solomon  Chapin,  Zebulon  Chapin,  Samuel  Bishop,  1777.  The 
south  part  of  the  farm  is  on  the  overplus  land  and  was  pur- 
chased of  the  town  of  Wilbraham  in  1773.  Isaac  Chapin  had  a 
Brandy  Still  just  north  of  the  barn  on  this  place.  At  the  time 
when  the  temperance  wave  was  sweeping  over  the  land,  about 
1845,  the  still  caught  fire.  The  neighbors  gathered,  but  they 
were  glad  to  see  it  go,  and  would  not  lift  a  finger  to  help  Mr. 
Chapin  put  out  the  fire,  although  he  begged  them  with  tears 
to  aid  him.  It  is  said  that  Zebulon  Chapin,  father  of  Isaac, 
lived  about  50  rods  east  of  the  Ridge  Road,  near  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  and  that  several  rock  maples  now  mark  the  site  of 
his  house,  and  that  his  12  children  were  bom  there,  from  1769 
to  1791.    He  gave  this  place  to  his  son  Isaac. 

10.  On  east  side  of  road.  Cellar  hole.  Now  owned  by  Henry 
I.  and  Clarence  E.  Edson.     Former  owners:    Cyrus  F.  Edson, 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


415 


HOME  OF  ALLYN  M.  SEAVER. 


View  showing  one  of  the  industries  in  which  Mr.  Seaver  is  interested. 


416  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Benjamin  Edson,  1802,  Justin  Stebbins,  Zebulon  Chapin  1783, 
Caleb  Stebbins,  1739,  Daniel  Warner.  The  old  deed  was  part 
of  lots  114,  115  and  116. 

11.  On  east  side.  House  now  abandoned,  formerly  Chauncey 
Bishop  place. 

12.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Dwight  W.  Eddy. 
Former  owners:  Eleazer  Bishop,  Shubal  Davis,  Nathaniel 
Knowlton,  Orson  Holdrich,  Elmer  Lemon,  Albert  Bliss,  Anna 
Bennett. 

13.  On  west  side  of  road.     Now  owned  by  J.   L.   Brooks. 

Former  owners:    Perkins,  Allyn  M.  Seaver,  Mrs.  Almira 

Davis,  George  Stebbins. 

14.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Allyn  M.  Seaver. 
Former  owners:  A.  Delos  Seaver,  Jason  Stebbins,  Frederick 
Stebbins,  Caleb  Stebbins,  David  Chapin,  Jr.,  in  1751.  This  is 
said  to  be  part  of  the  original  lot,  105,  allotted  to  Japhet 
Chapin  in  1685,  and  came  to  his  son  Daniel  in  1685.  Many 
Indian  relics  have  been  found  on  this  farm. 

15.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Herbert  H.  Graves. 
Former   owners:     Goldie   Frankel,    A.    M.    Seaver,   A.    Delos 

Seaver,  Francis  Knowlton,  N.  Knowlton,  Cadwell,  Capt. 

Daniel  Cadwell,  who  from  1737  to  1764  bought  of  Samuel 
Warner,  David  Warriner,  Isaac  Brewer,  the  east  end  of  lots 
97  to  102.  The  deed  frdhi  Samuel  Warner  reads,  "From  Brim- 
field  line,  west,  to  a  gutter  where  a  road  is  to  be  laid  out." 
(Ridge  Road.)  It  is  said  that  the  early  settlers  got  bog  iron 
ore  near  the  brook  east  of  the  house,  and  that  Temperance 
Day  Knowlton  raised  silk  worms  with  considerable  success  at 
the  time  of  the  silk  industry  excitement.  This  was  one  of  the 
places  purchased  by  the  society  for  the  promotion  of  agricul- 
ture among  the  Jews  a  few  years  ago. 

16.  On  west  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Joshua  L.  Brooks. 
Former  owners:  A.  M.  Seaver,  Oscar  F.  Benedict,  John  Bul- 
lard,  Stephen  Cadwell.  Capt.  Daniel  Cadwell  purchased  of 
Nathaniel  Warriner  in  1764.     Being  the  east  end  of  lot  96, 


z     ■ 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  419 

22  rods,  2  feet  and  9  inches  wide.  Mr.  Brooks  purchased  the 
place  in  1903.  He  was  instrumental  in  getting  the  telephone 
line  established  in  this  vicinity.  He  has  called  the  place 
"  Brookmont."  Mr.  Brooks  is  now  President  of  the  Springfield 
Board  of  Trade. 

17.  East  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Edna  Metcalf. 
Former  owners:   A.  M.  Seaver,  Mrs.  Joseph  (Shields)  Baldwin, 

Sextus  Shields,  Sheldon.     Many  Indian  relics  have  been 

found  on  this  place,  and  on  many  other  places  in  this  vicinity. 

18.  On  west  side  of  road.  Cellar  hole.  Formerly  owned  b}^ 
James  Calkins,  also  by  James  W.  Bennett. 

19.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Fred  C.  Phelps. 
Former  owners :  George  W.  Ely,  George  Leadbetter,  James  W. 
Bennett  who  built  the  house. 

20.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  J.  Addison  Bennett. 
Purchased  from  John  Rindge.  There  are  some  curious  stones 
on  ttns  place  which  may  have  done  service  for  the  Indians. 

21.  On  west  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  George  L.  Rindge. 
Former  owners :  Lucius  Rindge,  Royal  R.  Rindge.  This  place, 
having  been  occupied  by  the  Rindge  family  for  more  than  one 
hundred  years,  is  very  appropriately  called  "Century  Home- 
stead." 

Continuing  this  road  in  a  northerly  direction  for  about  half 
a  mile. 

On  east  side  of  road  there  is  a  cellar  hole  which  marks  the 
site  of  a  house  burned  several  years  ago.  The  place  is  now 
owned  by  Henry  M.  Green.  Former  owners:  Mrs.  Julia 
(Butler)  Green,  Benjamin  Butler,  Orsemus  Smith,  Alvin 
Bennet.  Mr.  Orsemus  vSmith  was  killed  on  the  railroad  near 
the  North  Wilbraham  station  about  1867,  and  Mrs.  Smith 
drowned  herself  and  her  child  in  the  brook  east  of  the  house 
about  1872. 

22.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Amelia  L. 
Hollingsworth.    Her  husband  built  the  house  about  1867.  -"On 


t  '^ 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


421 


east  side  is  the  site  of  the  first  mill  in  this  vicinity  formerly 
owned  by  E.  B.  Gates,  Dr.  Shearer,  Benjamin  Butler. 

23.     On  east  side  of  road.     Now  owned  by  H.  and  M.  Elpert. 


THE  RINDGE  OAK. 

A  red  oak  tree  standing  at  the  intersection  of  the  roads  just  north  of  the  "Century- 
Homestead."    Girth  is  16  feet,  at  3  feet  above  the  ground.    The  view  is  looking  northerly. 


Former   owners:     Frank    Rindge,    Charles    Rindge,    Benjamin 
Butler,  Artemus  Knowlton. 

After  passing   over   Eleven   Mile   Brook    (sometimes   called 
Twelve  Mile.) 


REV.  CHARLES  H.  GATES. 

Born  at  Palmer  in  1823.  He  was  ordained  in  the  Congregational  Church  in  1851.  Most 
of  his  service  as  a  clergyman  was  in  other  state.-^.  He  retired  from  the^  active  ministry  in 
1893.  He  was  the  oldest  man  in  town  and  held  the  Boston  Post  cane.  Died  December  IJ, 
1914,  in  his  ninety-second  year. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  423 

24.  On  the  east  side  of  the  road  is  the  home  of  Rev.  Charles 
H.  Gates.  Former  owners:  Asa  Gates,  Dr.  Shearer.  Rev.  Mr. 
Gates  was  born  in  Wilbraham  in  1823,  and  is  now  the  oldest 
man  in  town. 

25.  On  east  side.  Owned  by  estate  of  E.  O.  Gates.  Former 
owner:   E.  B.  Gates. 

26.  On  west  side  of  road.  Owned  by  estate  of  E.  O.  Gates. 
Formerly  used  as  a  residence  by  one  of  the  managers  of  the  mill. 

27.  On  east  side.  Estate  of  E.  0.  Gates.  Also  used  as  a 
residence  by  one  of  the  managers.  Former  owners:  D.  W. 
Ellis,  Benjamin  Butler. 

28.  On  west  side  of  road.  House,  owned  by  Estate  of  E.  0. 
Gates.  These  last  five  places  were  formerly  the  property  of 
Dwight  W.  Ellis,  Gates  and  Nelson,  Stebbins  and  others,  and 
were  used  as  homes  for  the  help  employed  in  the  saw  mill, 
grist  mill,  and  woolen  mills,  some  of  which  were  operated  here, 
from  about  1762,  until  recently,  using  the  power  furnished  by 
the  brook.  The  road  formerly  went  over  the  railroad  at  a 
grade  crossing,  and  entered  the  Boston  Road,  between  the 
houses  now  owned  by  E.  N.  Lyman  and  Bradway  and  Warren. 
Now  the  road  runs  under  the  railroad,  at  an  underpass  several 
rods  west  of  the  former  crossing,  and  enters  the  Boston 
Road. 

East  Street,  completes  the  list  of  roads  running  north  and 
south  through  the  town.  We  will  now  commence  on  the  roads 
running  east  and  west  in  our  territory,  beginning  with  the 
most  northerly  one. 

Old  Boston  Road 

Going  east  prom  Springfield  line 

1.  Near  Springfield  line.  Now  owned  by  estate  of  John 
Kelly. 

About  one- third  of  a  mile  east  from  the  Springfield  line,  the 
Boston  Road  enters  West  Street,  turns  to  the  north  and  runs 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  425 

under  the  railroad  at  the  underpass  and  turns  again  to  the 
east.    The  houses  on  the  road  are  as  follows; 

1.  On  north  side  of  road  and  a  little  east  of  the  underpass. 
House  now  owned  by  William  Lapine. 

2.  Now  owned  by  John  W.  Powers,  who  built  the  house 
recently. 

3.  On  south  side  of  road  between  it  and  the  railroad.  Now 
owned  by  Alexander  Cormack.  Former  owners:  Thomas 
Patterson,  Michael  Powers. 

4.  A  little  east  of  Cormack  house.  Now  owned  by  James 
Flanigan.  This  place  was  owned  or  occupied  for  many  years 
by  C.  M.  Willard,  who  conducted  the  saw  mill  on  the  south 
bank  of  Chicopee  river.  The  first  railroad  station  in  Wilbra- 
ham was  established  here,  probably  between  these  last  two 
houses.  The  road  continues  on  about  half  a  mile  and  crosses 
the  railroad  by  an  overhead  bridge  and  again  connects  with  the 
nev/  Boston  Road.  Just  before  crossing  the  railroad,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  is  the  cellar  hole  which  marks  the  site  of 
the  house  of  Patrick  Moran.  This  crossing  is  still  called 
"  Moran's  crossing."  It  was  formerly  a  grade  crossing,  eight  or 
ten  rods  further  to  the  east. 

Following  along  the  road,  on  the  south  side  of  the  railroad, 
about  half  a  mile  to  the  east. 

5.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  George  C.  Rose. 
Former  owners:  Allyn  M.  Seaver,  James  W.  Bennett  who 
built  the  first  house  there  about  1900  and  which  was  burned 
some  years  later  and  the  present  house  erected.  The  place  has 
been  called  Overlook  Poultry  Farm. 

6.  Now  owned  by  C.  W.  Parish.  Former  owner,  Abram 
Simons,  who  manufactured  cigars. 

7.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  heirs  of  Levi  R. 
Bliss.  Former  owner:  L.  Ruggles  Bliss  who  built  the  house, 
about  1840.  Known  as  Minnechaug  Farm  and  as  a  summer 
resort. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 

8.  On  south  side  of  road,  near  the  edge  of  Nine  Mile  Pond. 
14  cottages,  property  of  Mrs.  F.  A.  Towne  of  Springfield. 
Mostly  used  for  summer  residences. 

9.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Lewis  C.  Tripp. 
Built  in  1912. 

10.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  P. 
Moore.  Former  owners:  Mrs.  E.  B.  Gates.  Mrs  Dexter 
Tufts,  Mr.  Fred  Pease,  Marshall  A.  Lane. 

11.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Marshall  A.  Lane  and 
built  by  him  in  1912. 

12.  On  north  side  of  road.  Auto  Inn.  Now  owned  by  Wil- 
liam E.  Liversage.  Former  owners:  Marshall  A.  Lane,  Augus- 
tus J.   Lane,   •,    Captain  Shepard,   a  retired  sea  captain, 

whose  sailboat  contained  the  victims  of  the  Nine  Mile  Pond 
accident  in  1799.     (See  History.) 

13.  The  "Island."  Now  called  Bungalow  Point,  Nine  Mile 
Pond.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  J.  N.  Northrop  who  owns  ten 
cottages  there  which  her  husband  commenced  to  build  about 
1909.  Occupied  in  summer  by  families  for  vacation  purposes. 
Open  May  1  to  October  15.  These  cottages  are  on  a  peninsula 
which  extends  into  the  pond  from  the  east  shore. 

14.  On  south  side  of  road,  and  east  side  of  Nine  Mile  Pond. 
Club  House.  Owned  by  the  Manchonis  Club  of  Springfield, 
formerly  Bicycle  Club.    House  built  about  1888. 

North  of  Auto  Inn,  and  a  little  north  of  the  Boston  &  Albany 
railroad  are  two  houses,  connected  with  the  Boston  Road  by  a 
cart  path.    Beginning  at  the  west. 

1.  Home  of  Mrs.  Daniel  Sweeny.  Formerly  owned  by 
Timothy  Donovan,  who  probably  built  the  house  about  1880. 

2.  Home  of  Thomas  J.  Murphy.  Formerly  owned  by  Michael 
Sullivan. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 

15.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  John  Powers. 
Former  owners:  Mrs  A.  E.  Clark,  Lester  Squire,  who  built 
the  house  in  1872. 

16.  Bungalow,  built  in  1913  by  George  J.  Frost. 

17.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Maurice  Driscoll.  Former 
owners:    William  Ramsdell,  George  Lane,  Augustus  Lane. 

18.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Bernard  Lynch.  Former 
owner,  Augustus  Lane.  A  little  east  of  this  place  the  Boston 
road  enters  the  main  street  leading  to  Wilbraham  centre. 


Present  Boston  Road  (Now  Main  Street,  North  Wilbraham) 

Going  east  from  the  point  where  the  Main  Street  of  the 
town  enters  the  Boston  Road. 

1.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mary  Dempsey. 
Former  owner:  Augustus  F.  Friend  who  built  the  house  about 
1909. 

2.  On  south  side.  Now  owned  by  Augustus  F.  Friend. 
Former  owner:  James  W.  Bennett  who  built  the  house  about 
1900. 

3.  On  north  side  of  road.  Town  library.  Former  owners: 
Henry  Cutler,  James  W.  Bennett,  who  built  the  house  about 
1875.  This  place  was  conveyed  to  the  town  by  the  will  of 
Henry  Cutler,  subject  to  the  life  use  of  Abner  E.  Bell,  which 
use  expired  at  the  decease  of  Mr.  Bell  in  1912.  It  was  fitted 
up  for  its  present  use  at  an  expense  of  about  $2,500,  paid  by 
the  town. 

4.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Anna  (Bennett) 
Fuller,  whose  husband,  Charles  F.  Fuller,  built  the  house  in 
1897. 

5.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Emma  (Collins) 
Mowry.    House  built  in  1886  by  her  husband  De  Witt  Mowry. 


430 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


6.  On  south  side  of  road.  Present  owner.  Ernest  L.  Thomp- 
son who  built  the  house  in  1909  and  who  is  employed  as  pay- 
master by  the  Fred  T.  Ley  Co. 

7.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Lizzie  (Collins) 
Warren.    Formerly  owned  by  W.  L.  Collins  who  built  the  house 


HOME  OF  ERNEST  L.  THOMPSON. 

in  1897  on  site  of  the  home  of  Warren  Collins  which  burned  in 
1895.    The  old  house  was  used  as  the  second  depot. 

Part  of  this  house  has  been  used  for  several  years  as  the 
home  and  village  millinery  store,  of  Mrs.  L.  E.  Hawley. 

8.  On  north  side  of  road.  Present  site  of  Boston  and  Albany 
depot.  The  station  was  probably  established  here  about  1852, 
called  "Collins  Depot." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


431 


HOME  OF  MRS.   LIZZIE   (COLLINS)   WARREN. 


PRESENT  RAILROAD  STATION  AT  NORTH  WILBRAHAM. 


432 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


9.  On  south  side.  Hollister  Block.  Now  used  as  postoffice 
and  James  Logan's  drug  and  grocery  store.  Now  owned  by 
Julia  F.  Hollister  of  Lee,  Mass.,  and  built  by  Frank  Hollister 
and  T.  Hulbert. 

10.  On  north  side  of  road.  Bradway's  grocery  store.  Owned 
and  built  by  Nelson  Bradway  in  1912  on  site  of  former  post- 
ofifice  and  store  occupied  by  E.  B.  Gates,  Charles  Stacy  and 


STORE  OF  NELSON  I.   BRADWAY. 
A  store  has  been  kept  on  this  site  for  many  years. 

others.  The  road  formerly  crossed  the  railroad,  at  a  grade 
crossing,  just  east  of  the  station. 

11.  On  south  side  of  road.  Collins  Inn.  Now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Emma  (Collins)  Mowry.  Built  by  W.  L.  Collins  in  1874 
and  has  been  the  Central  Telephone  Station  since  the  line  was 
first  established.  A  livery  stable  has  been  kept  in  connection 
with  this  house  for  many  years. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


433 


12.  On  south  side  of  road.  Small  house.  Now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Emma  (Collins)  Mowry.  Former  owners :  W.  L.  Collins, 
Warren  Collins  who  built  it  in  1847.  This  building  was  the 
first  railroad  station  and  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  depot. 

13  and  14.  On  north  side.  Two  small  buildings,  owned  by 
estate  of  W.  L.  Collins.  Built  about  1880.  One  formerly  used 
by  town  for  storage  purposes,  and  the  other  a  meat  market. 


COLLINS  INN. 

Owned  by  Mrs.  Emma  (Collins)  Mowry. 

Formerly  home  of  W.  Levi  Collins. 


15.  On  south  side  of  road.  Building  owned  by  Joseph  Bald- 
win's heirs,  and  used  by  Frank  A.  Fuller  as  a  general  grocery 
store.  Built  about  1892  on  the  site  of  a  cheese  factory,  which 
was  erected  about  1867,  and  which  was  burned. 

16.  On  south  side.  Blacksmith  shop.  Now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Emma  (Collins)  Mowry.     Former  owner:    W.  L.  Collins,  who 


434 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


built  it  in  1887.  The  road  now  runs  by  the  underpass,  under 
the  railroad.  We  will  complete  the  list  of  places  in  North 
Wilbraham  village,  before  continuing  along  the  rest  of  this 
road. 

The  Original  Boston  Road 

Now  called  Maple  Street,  at  North  Wilbraham.     Going  east 
from  the  main  street  of  the  town. 


HOME  OF  FRANK  A.   FULLER. 


1.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  John  Baldwin, 
postmaster.  Former  owners:  Joseph  Baldwin,  John  Baldwin, 
who  kept  a  tavern  from  1836  to  1860  or  1865.  Formerly  called 
"Ten  Mile  House." 

2.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Frank  A.  Fuller  who  built 
house  in  1894. 

3.  On  south  side  of  street.  Home  of  J.  M.  Pcrr\'  who  built 
house  in  1886  on  land  purchased  of  Joseph  Baldwin. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


435 


4.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Anna  Miller. 
Former  owner:  Marshall  Wright  who  built  the  house  about 
1895. 

5.  Parsonage  of  Grace  Union  Church  built  in  1890  by  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society. 

6.  South  side  of  street.  Present  owner,  Frank  A.  Fuller,  mer- 
chant. Former  owner,  Hiram  Danks  who  built  house  in  1877 
on  land  purchased  from  John  Baldwin.    This  was  the  site  of  an 

old  blacksmith  shop, 
occupied  about  1868  to 
1871  by  E.  M.  Barry. 

7.  North  side  of  street. 
Present  owner,  Mrs. 
Frances  E.  Wall,  widow 
of  Edwin  Wall,  who 
built  house  in  1891  on 
land  purchased  of  W.  L. 
Collins.  Mr.  Wall  was 
Town  Clerk  for  many 
years. 

8.  On  south  side  of 
street.  House  owned 
and  built  by  Joseph 
Baldwin  1914. 

9    and   10.      On   north 


THE  BALDWIN  MAPLE. 

Standing  in  the  yard,  near  the  home  of  Mrs.  Joseph 
Baldwin,  at  North  Wilbraham. 


side  of  street.  Two 
houses  owned  by  H.  W.  Cutler.  They  were  built  in  1877  by 
the  late  Henry  Cutler.  This  is  practically  the  site  of  the  old 
Sikes  tavern  of  colonial  times.  Marcus  Lyons  body  was  left 
here,  and  the  inquest  was  held  here,  when  the  tavern  was 
managed  by  a  Mr.  Calkins.  Also  site  of  first  home  of  Warren 
Collins.  The  garden  of  this  estate  was  the  scene  of  the 
cantata  presented  during  the  anniversary  in  June  1913,  by  the 
young  people  of  North  Wilbraham  under  the  direction  of  Mrs. 
H.  W.  Cutler. 


436  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

11.  On  south  side.  Home  of  Mrs.  Maria  Baldwin.  House 
built  by  her  husband,  Joseph  Baldwin  on  the  site  of  the  Glover 
tavern.  The  barn  stands  on,  or  near,  the  site  of  a  Revolutionary 
blacksmith  shop,  probably  the  one  where  several  witnesses 
observed  the  movements  of  Halligan  and  Daly,  murderers  of 
Marcus  Lyon. 

12.  On  south  side  of  street.  Present  owner,  Timothy  Keefe 
who  built  house  in  1905. 

13.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Herbert  F. 
Green.    Built  about  1898  by  Frank  H.  Strickland. 


Chapel  Street 
Going  north  to  Boston  Road  from  Maple  Street. 

1.  East  side  of  street.  Grace  Union  Church.  Built  in  1876 
on  land  given  to  the  society  by  Warren  Collins.     (See  History.) 

2.  On  east  side.  Present  owner.  Dr.  A.  L.  Damon.  Former 
owners:  Charles  E.  Garvin,  Charles  E.  Stacy,  who  built  the 
house  in  1878. 

3.  On  west  side  of  street.  Owned  by  estate  of  E.  B.  Gates. 
Built  by  E.  B.  Gates  in  1879. 

4.  On  east  side.  Owned  by  Collins  Manufacturing  Company, 
who  built  house  about  1872.  It  has  been  occupied  a  large  part 
of  the  time  by  some  of  the  superintendents  of  the  paper  mill. 

A  short  street,   going  north  from  Maple  Street  to  Boston 
Road,  a  little  west  of  Chapel  Street. 

1.  On  east  side  of  street.  House  owned  by  estate  of  E.  B. 
Gates.    Built  by  Miss  Harriet  Gates. 

2.  On  east  side.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Emma  (Collins) 
Mowry.  Former  owner.  Miss  Caroline  Collins.  Built  by 
Warren  Collins  in  1861. 


ERASMUS  B.  GATES. 

Born  at  Wilbraham  in  1827.  Merchant  and  Postmaster  at  North  Wilbraham  for  many 
years.  Served  as  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  also  as  Selectman  for  several  terms.  Died 
in  1914,  aged  87  years. 


HOME  OF  MRS.  HARRIET  (KENT)  GATES. 


438  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

\  Going  north  on  the  road  from  the  Boston  &  Albany  under- 
pass at  North  Wilbraham,  to  Ludlow  line,  at  bridge  over 
Chicopee  River. 

On  both  sides  of  this  road  and  at  some  distance  west  of  the 
road  are  about  fifteen  or  twenty  houses  and  also  the  paper 
mills  of  the  Collins  Mfg.  Co.,  and  the  grain  mills  of  the  Cutler 
Co.  There  was  formerly  a  large  growth  of  trees  on  this  land 
and  from  1857  to  1864  it  was  used  as  a  campmeeting  ground  by 
the  Springfield  District  Methodist  Conference,  in  the  summer 
of  each  year.  The  houses  of  the  Collins  Mfg.  Co.  are  not 
entered  here  separately. 

1.  On  west  side  of  road.     Now  owned  by  Flavel  D.  Benton. 

2.  On   west   side.      Present   owner,   Thomas   Lines.      Fonner 
owner,  Joseph  Parker,  who  built  the  house  about  1878. 


Near,  and  just  north  of  railroad  track. 

1.  Poolroom. 

2.  House  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Fitzgerald.     Former 
owner,  Phineas  Knowlton. 

Before  the  present  underpass  was  constructed  the  road 
crossed  the  railroad  at  a  grade  crossing,  just  east  of  the  railroad 
station,  and  ran  down  towards  the  river,  just  west  of  this  house. 

Boston  Road  (continued) 

After  passing  through  North  Wilbraham  village  and  going 
by  the  underpass  beneath  the  Boston  &  Albany  railroad,  the 
road  continues  along  eastward  near  the  Chicopee  river,  without 
any  houses  on  it,  for  about  half  a  mile.  After  crossing  Eleven 
Mile  Brook  the  first  house  is: 

1.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  George  Cady. 
Former  owners:  Henry  C.  Butler,  Benjamin  Butler.  A  little 
east  of  this  place  is  the  site  of  the  old  Toll  Gate. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  439 

2.  South  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Edward  N.  Lyinan. 
Former  owner  Benjamin  Butler.     Called  the  "Bliss  Place." 

3.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Herbert  F.  Green. 
Former  owners:  Henry  C.  Butler,  Col.  Benjamin  Butler,  who 
was  a  colonel  in  the  militia  about  1838. 

4.  On  south  side  of  road.     Present  owners:    F.  Warren  and 


THE  COLONEL  BUTLER  HOMESTEAD. 
Now  owned  by  his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Herbert  (Butler)  Green. 

N.  Bradway.  Former  owners:  Walter  Green,  Benjamin 
Butler.    Called  the  "Kilbom  Place." 

5.  On  north  side.  Cement  house  owned  by  A.  L.  Warriner 
who  built  the  house  in  1908  on  land  purchased  of  Jason  Butler 
whose  house  was  burned  in  1907. 

6.  On  north  side.  House  moved  from  Lyon  place  on  Ridge 
Road  about  1850.  Present  owner,  James  K.  Butler.  Former 
owner,  Benjamin  Butler,  about  1870. 


JASON  BUTLER. 

A  teacher  in  the  public  schools  for  several  years.     Member  of  School  Committeet  of 
Selectmen,  Representative  to  the  Legislature.     A  son  of  Col.  Benjamin  Butler. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 

7.     On  north  side.     Present  owner,  James  K.  Butler. 


441 


8.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  Ash. 
Known  as  the  "Seth  Knowlton  Place."  A  store  was  kept  here 
for  several  years. 


9.     On   south    side.      Present    owner, 


Smith.      Charles 


Ulrich  and  Thomas  Marshall  were  former  owners. 


HOME  OF  JAMES  S.  MORGAN. 


10.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  C.  W.  Vinton. 
Former  owner:  Benjamin  Butler.  On  the  east  side  of  this 
place,  a  road  runs  northerly  to  Three  Rivers. 

11.  On  north  side  of  Boston  Road.  Now  owned  by  James  S. 
Morgan,  who  built  house  in  1879. 

12.  On  north  side.     Schoolhouse,  District  No.  6. 

13.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ines  Perry.  This 
was  formerly  a  methodist  meeting  house. 


442 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


14.  On  south  side  of  road.  The  meeting  house  of  the  Christian 
Union  Society.  This  was  erected  in  1868  on  land  given  to  the 
society  by  Col.  Benjamin  Butler. 

15.  Some  little  distance  north  of  the  road.  Now  owned  by 
Benjamin  B.  Green.  Former  owners:  Palmer  Savings  Bank, 
Samuel  Swift,  Rufus  Graves,  George  Burr. 

16.  On  south  side.  Now  owned  by  Alphonsus  L.  Boylan. 
Former  owner,  Daniel  Hovey. 


SCHOOLHOUSE,  DISTRICT  NO.  (i. 

This  schoolhouse  formerly  stood  about  a  mile  to  the  north  and  was  moved  to  the  present 
location. 

17.  On  north  side.    Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Henry  Green. 

18.  A  little  north  of  road.    The  East  Wilbraham  Cemetery. 

19.  On  south  side.  Now  owned  by  Henry  M.  Green.  Former 
owners:  Walter  M.  Green,  Alonzo  Ingraham,  Elisha  Burr. 
Just  east  of  this  house  there  was  once  a  "store,"  where  it  is 
said  that  "booze"  was  sold  in  former  days. 

20.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Carlos  Alden. 
Former  owner,  Joshua  Alden. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  443 

21.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  George  Chandler. 
Former  owner,  Mrs.  Loren  Bishop,  who  built  house  about  1897. 

22.  On  south  side  of  road.     Present  owner,  D.  C.  Griswold. 

Former  owners:   Theodore  Jones,  Jason  Jones,  .     Perhaps 

Ezekiel  Terry  conducted  his  printing  business  at  this  place,  for 
a  short  time,  about  1810.  This  is  the  last  place  in  Wilbraham 
on  the  Boston  Road. 

Going  north  from  No.  6  schoolhouse  towards  "Red  Bridge" 
and  Three  Rivers. 

1.  Owned  by Consigne.     Formerly,  A.  Knowlton. 

2.  Owned  by  F.  M.  Angell.    Formerly,  A.  Chilson. 

3.  Owned  by Smith.    Formerly,  H.  Burr. 

4.  Owned  by  Andrew  Clealand.    Formerly,  P.  P.  Potter. 

Going  south  from  Boston  Road,  the  next  road  running  east 
and  west  across  the  town,  is  from  Ridge  Road  to  East  Street. 

On  road  leading  from  No.  5  schoolhouse  east  to  East  Street, 
near  the  home  of  George  Rindge. 

1.  On  the  hill  east  of  the  schoolhouse  three  bungalows  have 

recently  been  built,  owned  by  George  Chapin, Bates, 

Stedman. 

2.  On  the  north  side  of  the  road.  House  owned  by  Benjamin 
F.  Green  and  built  about  1880. 

These  are  the  only  houses  now  on  this  road. 

Going  south  on  Main  Street,  nearly  two  miles  from  the 
Boston  road,  we  come  to  Faculty  Street,  leading  off  to  the 
west  from  Main  Street. 


444  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

Faculty  Street,  going  west  from  Main  Street. 
All  the  houses  are  on  north  side  of  street. 

1.  Wilbraham  Academy  Dormitory,  a  little  west  of  the 
principal's  house.  Was  built  in  1827,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
principal's  house  and  used  as  such  for  twenty-eight  years,  when 
it  was  removed  to  present  location  and  fitted  up  for  students. 

2.  Now  owned  by  John  Kelley  and  built  by  him  about  1904. 
Previous  owner.  Rev.  Franklin  Fisk. 

3.  Mrs.  S.  F.  White  the  present  owner,  inherited  from  her 
husband,  Rev.  Lorenzo  White,  who  bought  from  Nancy  and 
Margaret  Burt.  Perry  Goodale  and  William  H.  Bussell  who 
may  have  built  the  house  were  former  owners. 

4.  Present  owner,  William  D.  Bridge,  Orange,  N.  J.  Former 
owners  were  Mrs.  Abigail  L.  Bridge  and  Albert  Smith,  a  sea 
captain.  This  was  the  home  of  Timothy  D.  Smith,  killed  in  a 
skirmish  at  Jeffersonville,  Va.,  April  6*^*^,  1865. 

5.  Owned  by  C.  Francis  Home.  Former  owners  were  Mrs. 
L.  S.  Nesmith,  who  was  a  large  collector  of  antiques  and  curios. 
Mrs.  F.  A.  Billings,  Mrs.  H.  J.  French,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Curtis,  Prof. 
Oliver  Marcy,  who  built  it. 

6.  Estate  of  Rev.  Charles  Noble.  Occupied  by  his  daughter 
Lucre tia  Gray  Noble. 

7.  Present  owner,  James  Ritchie.  Former  owners:  C.  W. 
Vinton  and  sister,  C.  H.  Vinton,  E.  Munsell,  Betsey  H.  Smith 
and  L  H.  Plumley. 

This  road  was  laid  out  in  1764.  "The  Road  to  begin  from 
the  Road  or  Street  that  David  Warriner  lives  upon  or  the 
Main  Road  leading  to  Samuel  Glovers, — on  the  north  side  of 
the  lot  originally  laid  out  to  John  Dorchester  (No.  96)  and 
now  owned  by  David  Warriner  Extending  west  across  Cowpen 
Meadow  Swamp." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  445 

Going  south  on  Main  Street  from  Faculty  Street,  we  come 
to  the  road  leading  eastward  up  to  the  Ridge  road.  There 
are  now  no  houses  on  that  road. 

Springfield  Street,  going  west  from  Main  Street. 

1.  First  house  west  of  Phillips'  store.  Now  owned  by  Edith 
A.  Holman.  Former  owners:  Phebe  A.  Holman,  Cecelia  B. 
Chilson,  Emeline  R.  Sterling  and  Catharine  B.  Sherman, 
Lucinda  D.  Moody,  Nancy  B.  Moody,  Gaius  Brewer.  The 
blacksmith  shop  of  John  Brewer,  and  of  his  father  Gaius 
Brewer,  stood  just  east  of  the  present  house.  About  1850,  a 
six  or  eight  years  old  boy  and  his  sister  were  sent  on  an  errand 
to  this  place.  They  found  the  lady  of  the  house  smoking  her 
pipe,  (something  not  unusual  in  those  days).  In  order  to 
attend  to  their  errand  she  was  obliged  to  leave  the  room  for  a 
few  minutes  and  laid  down  her  pipe.  The  children  took  several 
whiffs  from  it  before  she  returned,  and  soon  the  floor  of  the 
room  seemed  to  them  to  be  whirling  around  and  the  sides  of  the 
house  falling  in.  They  got  out  of  the  house  and  ate  some  sorrel 
which  they  found  near  the  shop,  and  hurried  home.  But  the 
doctor  had  to  be  called  before  their  troubles  were  ended.  The 
"Boy"  told  me  the  story  only  a  few  days  ago. 

2.  Owned  by  Anna  A.  Peck  who  built  the  house  in  1893. 
Previous  owners:  Anna  A.  Peck  and  Mrs.  Elvira  L.  Childs, 
Phebe  A.  Holman. 

3.  Present  owner,  Carrie  A.  Moody.    Former  owners :    David 

K.  Merrill,  Spaulding,  William  Brewer,  John  and  Henry 

Brewer.    House  supposed  to  have  been  built  by  Lee  Rice. 

4.  First  house  on  south  side  of  Springfield  Street.  Now  owned 
by  William  H.  Foster.  Former  owners:  Dr.  James  M.  Foster, 
Mrs.  Lottie  (Kent)  Cross,  William  Kent  who  built  the  house. 
In  1812,  the  town  purchased  the  land  where  this  house  stands, 
(or  very  near  it)  for  a  Town  Pound,  described  partly  as  follows : 
"Beginning  at  the  bars  north  of  William  Brewer's  cider  mill, 


446  The  History  or  Wilbraham 

about  20  rods  west  of  Gaius  Brewer's  blacksmith  shop, — 
bounded  north  on  the  lane."  So  it  appears  that  our  present 
Springfield  Street  was  called  a  lane  in  1812. 

5.  Just  west  of  the  Foster  house.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ellen 
M.  Stephens,  who  inherited  it  from  her  husband,  James 
Stephens.    Former  owners:   Dr.  C.  W.  Cross,  W.  Kent. 

6.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Jane  Wynn, 
who  inherited  it  from  her  husband,  Henry  Wynn,  who  carried 
on  the  blacksmith  business  there  for  about  twenty  years  until 
about  1898,  in  a  shop  north  of  the  house.  Former  owner, 
James  P.  Brown,  who  built  the  present  house. 

7.  A  few  rods  west  of  Wynn  house.  Now  owned  by  Miss 
Juliette  A.  Bosworth.  Former  owner,  Charles  M.  Pease,  who 
built  the  present  house  about  1893. 

8.  A  few  rods  west  of  the  Bosworth  house.  Now  owned  by 
George  W.  Rice.  Former  owners:  L.  G.  Bartlett,  Juliette  A. 
Bosworth,  Mrs.  Theodosia  Bosworth,  Dea.  Horace  Clark. 
Now  occupied  by  Frank  Sweatland.  This  is  the  building  which 
previous  to  about  1842,  was  the  schoolhouse,  which  stood  on 
the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  just  north  of  the  road  leading  up 
to  the  Dell  cemetery.  Afterwards  the  store  and  postofiice  of 
Luthur  B.  Bliss,  which  was  moved  about  1858  to  the  west  side 
of  the  street,  and  used  for  a  tenement,  until  about  1869,  when 
it  was  moved  to  the  present  location. 

9.  On  south  side  of  street.  No.  4  schoolhouse,  built  in  1905, 
at  a  total  expense  of  about  $5,000  including  the  land,  purchased 
of  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Gumey. 

10.  Just  beyond  the  schoolhouse.  Now  owned  by  William 
A.  Rice.  Former  owners:  Mrs.  Caroline  Lyman,  William 
Kent,  who  built  the  house  about  1865. 

11.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ellen  M. 
Stephens  who  inherited  it  from  her  husband,  James  Stephens. 
Former  owner,  Hendrick . 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


U7 


12.  Now  owned  b}^  G.  F.  Comstock,  who  purchased  it  in  1907 
from  the  estate  of  Ann  Robinson,  who  purchased  it  in  1872. 
Purchased  by  former  owners:  W.  Kent  in  1872,  James  Robin- 
son, (husband  of  Ann)  1865,  Ichabod  Marcy,  1858,  E.  B.  Mor- 
gan, 1854,  Larkin  Fay,  1838,  Dr.  Jesse  W.  Rice,  1826.  This 
place,  Hke  all  the  others  on  the  north  side  of  Springfield  Street 
over  to  Pole  Bridge  Brook,  are  on  the  tract  purchased  by 
Charles  Brewer  in  1781.     Larkin  Fay  built  the  house.     George 


SCHOOLHOUSE,  DISTRICT  NO.  4. 
On  Springfield  Street. 


Robinson,  son  of  James  and  Ann,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  1864. 


13.  On  south  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  J.  M.  Belcher  of 
Springfield.     Former  owners:    Mrs.   Sarah  Ball,  Homer  Ball, 

Jones.     This  building  was  formerly  the  shoemakers  shop 

of  Ezra  White,  and  stood  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  a  few 
rods  north  of  the  stone  church,  and  was  moved  to  the  present 
site,  probably  about  1853.  Recently  in  scraping  the  paint 
from  the  outside  of  the  house,  the  name  E.  WHITE,  was 
uncovered. 


448  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

14.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Fred.  Wads- 
worth.  Former  owners:  C.  V.  Wells,  F.  Warner,  E.  W.  Beards- 
ley,  John  Markham,  and  others. 

15.  About  forty  or  sixty  rods  west  of  Wadsworth  house. 
Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Granger)  Burbank.  Former 
owners:  Judge  E.  B.  Maynard  of  Springfield,  Emma  P.  Par- 
menter,  Whitcomb  Grey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ira  Hitchcock.  Just 
east  of  this  place  is  the  cellar  hole  which  marks  the  site  of  a 
house  owned  or  occupied,  for  many  years  by  Alvin  Banister. 
Down  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  is 
the  site  of  the  cheese  factory  which  was  erected  about  1866, 
and  burned  some  years  later. 

16.  Passing  over  the  first  branch  of  Pole  Bridge  Brook,  and 
about  half  way  up  the  small  hill  beyond,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  street,  is  the  house  now  owned  by  George  N.  Chase.  Former 
owners:  John  W.  Robb,  Lyman  Warner,  Mrs.  Cornelia 
(Brewer)  (Newell)  Blanchard,  who  inherited  it  from  her  father, 
Calvin  Brewer,  who  built  the  house  in  1830,  and  moved  into  it 
in  1831,  as  I  have  learned  from  old  letters  in  my  possession. 
About  1800,  a  tannery  was  conducted  here  by  Henry  and 
Harvey  (or  Hervey)  Howard.  This  is  the  house  where  the 
confederate  flag  was  displayed  in  1861.  (See  18,  North  Main 
Street.) 

Some  sixty  or  eighty  rods  further  to  the  west,  the  street 
crosses  the  second  and  principal  branch  of  Pole  Bridge  Brook. 
Fifty  or  seventy  rods  further,  on  the  south  side  of  the  street,  is 
the  well  where  Phebe  Ann,  the  three  years  old  daughter  of 
Benoni  Atchinson,  was  drowned  in  1830. 

Four  corners,  where  Springfield  Street  crosses  West  Street. 
(For  a  description  of  the  places,  see  West  Street.) 

About  half  a  mile  west  of  West  Street,  beyond  a  small  trac 
of  wood-land,  is  the  original  western  bounds  of  the  Outward 
Commons.  The  line  is  very  well  defined  by  the  stone  walls, 
running  north  and  south  on  both  sides  of  the  street. 

17.  On  south  side  of  street  is  the  cellar  hole  which  marks  the 
site  of  the  Lyman  house,  burned  about  1896.     The  large  barn 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  449 

is  still  standing.  Now  owned  by  heirs  of  William  H.  Lyman. 
Former  owners:  Wm.  H.  Lyman,  Joel  M.  Lyman,  (perhaps 
Joel  Lyman).     David  Jones  lived  in  this  vicinity  in  1755. 

18.  On  north  side  of  street.  Now  owned  by  Alex  Boubard. 
Former  owners:  Benj.  B.  Brewer,  Anson  C.  Brewer.  The 
bridge  over  the  brook  was  called  "Kilboms  Bridge"  in  1755. 

19.  A  little  west  of  brook,  formerly  called  "Worlds  End 
Brook,"  now  owned  by  Leon  L.  Jewell.  The  house  was  built 
by  J.  R.  Peasley  about  1894. 

20.  Very  near  the  Springfield  line.    Now  owned  by  Charles  A. 

Brewer.    Former  owners:  Sturtevant  Merrick  Co., Smith, 

Ackerman,  Bert.  Brewer,  who  built  the  house  about  1890. 

Road  to  Monson. 

Starting  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  about  one-third  of  a 
mile  south  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  and  going  easterly 
towards  Monson. 

On  September  11,  1908,  the  Springfield  Automobile  Club 
held  a  hill  climb  on  this  road.  A  distance  of  one  mile  was 
marked  off,  beginning  about  twenty-five  rods  east  of  Main 
Street  and  ending  forty  or  sixty  rods  west  of  the  Ridge  Road. 
About  eight  hundred  automobiles  were  lined  up  along  the 
course  and  between  five  and  six  thousand  persons  attended  and 
witnessed  the  different  events.  The  mile  was  made  by  an 
automobile  in  one  minute,  eight  seconds,  and  by  an  Indian 
motorcycle  in  one  minute  and  three-fifths  of  a  second. 

The  houses  on  this  road  are: 

1.  On  north  side  of  road.  The  first  building  is  an  old  black- 
smith shop.  Now  owned  by  Miss  Jane  E.  Hancock.  Formerly 
owned  and  carried  on  by  her  father,  Moses  Hancock.  It  is  not 
in  use  now. 

2.  A  few  rods  east  of  the  old  shop.     House  now  owned  by  F. 

D.  Benton.    Former  owners:   Asa  Benton,  J.  Neff, Bridge, 

Adams,  W.  F.  Munsell, Deane. 


450  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

3.  On  south  side  of  road,  just  beyond  where  the  old  "Meeting- 
house Lane"  crosses  the  road.  Now  owned  by  Edward  Evans. 
Former  owners:  Robert  Conboy,  Mrs.  Josephine  (Bliss)  John- 
son, E.  C.  Colton,  who  built  the  house  about  1868. 

4.  On  north  side.    House  now  owned  by  heirs  of  Sophia  Eddy. 

Former  owners:    Abial  Eddy,  Blakeledge.     The  house 

was  built  previous  to  1870. 

5.  About  half  way  to  the  top  of  the  mountain.  Now  owned 
by  Charles  C.  Beebe.  Inherited  from  his  father  M.  F.  Beebe. 
Purchased  by  former  owners  as  follows:  Marcus  F.  Beebe,  1863, 
Brainard  T.  Brewer,  1845,  who  built  the  present  house  in  1850, 
Luther  Brewer  1830,  Thomas  Merrick  1803,  Gideon  Burt  1802, 
Stephen  Utley,  Jr.,  1801,  Gideon  Burt,  1770,  Nathaniel  Hitch- 
cock, 1760,  who  built  a  house  there  in  1766.  This  is  one  of  the 
"Peach  farms." 

Opposite  this  house  a  road  leads  to  the  south  to  the  home  of 
C.  P.  Bolles. 

A  little  more  than  a  mile  from  Main  Street,  the  road  crosses 
the  Ridge  road  at  the  top  of  the  mountain  and  begins  to 
descend  to  the  east. 

6.  On  south  side  of  road.  House  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Elvira 
(Day)  Blanchard.  Former  owners:  L.  Munsell,  Dennis 
Knowlton.     E.  Tupper  helped  build  house. 

7.  At  the  place  where  a  road  leads  off  southwesterly  towards 
Hampden.  House  now  owned  by  John  Francovitz,  Jr.  Former 
owners:  Town  of  Wilbraham,  Betsey  Webster,  Mrs.  Lydia 
(Webster)  Nelson,  Miles  Webster,  Elijah  Webster,  who  came 
from  Hebron,  Conn.,  and  purchased  the  place  in  1794.  The 
present  house  was  built  about  1817,  to  replace  one  that  stood 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  This  place  is  on  part  of  the  over- 
plus land,  and  was  sold  in  1773,  by  the  town  of  Wilbraham  to 
Noah  and  Solomon  Warriner.  Much  of  the  land,  first  pur- 
chased by  Elijah  Webster,  has  been  sold  by  different  owners. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


451 


Since  the  above  was  written  the  house  has  burned.  On  the 
north  side  of  the  road  W.  H.  Foster  has  recently  set  out  the 
largest  peach  orchard  in  Glendale. 

8.  On  north  side  of  road  just  before  it  crosses  East  Street  is 
the  cemetery  which  was  established  previous  to  1800.  In  1805 
the  North  Parish  chose  "Duty  Partridge,  Ebenezer  Cadwell, 
I.  Stebbins  a  Committee  to  fence  the  Burying  Yard  over  the 
mountain." 


HOME  OF  LUTHER  I..  FARE. 
Birthplace  of  Judge  Marcus  P.  Knowlton,  now  of  Springfield. 


Crossing  East  Street  and  going  on  easterly. 

9.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  George  E.  Calkins. 
Former  owners:  C.  C.  Day,  Edson  heirs.  Mr.  Calkins  has 
carried  on  the  blacksmith  and  wagon  making  business  here  and 
nearby,  since  about  1880. 

10.  Road  leading  off  in  a  northeasterly  direction  towards 
Palmer.  At  this  point  the  Monson  road  runs  southerly  for  a 
short  distance. 

11.  In  the  fork  of  the  roads.  House  now  owned  by  Luther  L. 
Farr.     Former  owners:    E.  A.  Day,  Lorenzo  Munsell,  Willard 


452 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


F.  Munsell,  Merrick  Knowlton,  Julius  Nash,  Eliphalet  Hancock, 
Moses  Hancock,  Zury  Calkins,  James  Calkins.  The  house  was 
built  about  1800.  Judge  Marcus  P.  Knowlton  of  Springfield, 
son  of  Merrick  and  Fatima  (Perrin)  Knowlton,  is  said  to  have 
been  born  in  this  house.  About  1850  or  1860,  a  man  was 
found  frozen  to  death  near  this  place. 

12.  On  west  side.  Now  owned  by  Charles  M.  Calkins. 
Former  owners:  Alanson  Calkins,  Luke  Calkins,  Mrs.  Hancock, 


BIRTHPLACE  OF  DR.  MARSHALL  CALKINS  AND  DR.  DAVID  CALKINS. 
Now  home  of  Charles  M.  Calkins. 


Dr.  Marshall  Calkins,  son  of  Luke  and  Polly  (Hancock)  Calkins, 
was  born  here  September  2,  1828.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Springfield  since  1867,  and  been  \-ery 
successful.    David  Calkins,  M.D.,  was  also  bom  here. 

13.     On  east  side.    Now  owned  by  Charles  M.  Calkins.  Former 

owners :  Luke  Calkins, Mixter,  who  built  the  house  about 

1830.  It  was  long  the  home  of  Hudson  and  Harrison  Calkins, 
twin  brothers.  They  were  familiarly  spoken  of  as  "Hud  and 
Hare." 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  453 

14.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Evanore  Olds 
Beebe.    Former  owners:  Anne  Daniels,  Marcus  Daniels,  Justin 

Daniels,  Elijah  Plumley,  Smith,  George  Mixter,  who  was 

a  teacher  and  preacher,  and  built  the  house  in  1832,  for  a  store 
and  tavern,  and  it  may  have  been  used  as  such  for  a  short  time. 
Miss  Beebe  has  made  the  place  noted  for  her  large  and  fine  col- 
lection of  antiques  and  china.  Because  of  the  large  maple  trees 
which  beautify  the  highway,  she  has  called  the  place  Maple- 
hurst.     (See  History.) 

A  little  south  of  this  place  the  road  again  turns  to  the  east 
and  continues  on  to  Monson. 

There  are  now  no  other  houses  in  Wilbraham  on  this  road  to 
Monson. 

At  the  point  where  the  road  turns  to  the  east,  a  road  leads 
off  towards  the  south  to  Hampden.  The  houses  on  that 
road  are: 

1.  On  west  side  of  road.  House  now  owned  by  Charles  M. 
Calkins.  Former  owners:  A.  Calkins,  Luke  Calkins.  The 
house  is  now  unoccupied  and  badly  in  need  of  repairs. 

2.  On  east  side.  Now  owned  by  Randolph  Beebe.  Former 
owners:  Mrs.  Sarah  Gilligan,  Ithimar  Bliss,  Nathan  Mack, 
Daniel  Chappel.  Probably  Nathan  Mack  settled  here  'about 
1785  to  1790.  The  first  mention  of  the  name  in  the  Vital 
Records  is,  "Nathan,  son  of  Nathan  and  Mary  Mack  bom 
Aug.  13,  1791." 

One  day,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Nathan  Mack,  looking  out  of  the 
door,  saw  her  little  daughter  sitting  on  the  grass,  playing  with 
something  in  her  lap.  She  stole  quietly  up  behind  and  barely 
stifled  a  scream  as  she  saw  a  large  rattlesnake  curled  up  in  the 
girl's  lap.  She  ran  to  the  cabin,  caught  up  a  small  tub  and 
hurrying  back  dropped  it  down  over  the  snake,  which  had 
started  to  crawl  off  the  girl's  lap,  and  drew  the  child  away. 
The  mother  nearly  fainted  as  she  carried  her  into  the  cabin. 
The  father  coming  home  from  his  work,  saw  the  tub  in  the 
yard  and  picked  it  up  when  out  sprang  the  rattler,  which  he 


454 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


quickly  killed  with  his  hoe.  The  rattles  were  cut  off  and 
treasured  by  the  little  girl  as  she  grew  to  womanhood,  and 
many  years  later  she  gave  them  to  her  daughter,  and  they  were 
kept  in  the  family  until  worn  out.  The  great-great-grand- 
daughter of  the  little  girl,  now  lives  on  the  same  spot  where 
the  log  cabin  stood,  and  often  relates  this  story. 
This  is  the  last  house  in  Wilbraham  on  this  road. 


HOME  OF  RANDOLPH  BEEBE. 
Scene  of  the  rattlesnake  incident. 


On  road  going  northeasterly  from   Luther  Farrs,   towards 
Palmer. 

1.  On  west  side  of  road.  Cellar  hole  which  marks  the  site  of 
the  Reynolds  place.  Now  owned  by  George  E.  Calkins. 
Former  owners:  F.  E.  Lemon,  G.  M.  Edson,  C.  E.  Edson, 
Stephen  Reynolds,  who  carried  on  the  blacksmith  business  here 
for  many  years,  and  the  land  is  now  in  possession  of  his  great- 
great-grandson. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  455 

2.  On  south  side  of  road.  Fred  Lemon,  present  owner. 
Former  owner,  Charles  Edson.  Part  of  the  house  was  formerly 
a  cider  mill. 

3.  On  north  side.  Now  owned  by  Leon  J.  Bennett.  Former 
owners:  L.  L.  Farr,  E.  A.  Day,  G.  M.  Edson,  C.  E.  Edson, 
M.  Edson,  B.  Edson,  W.  Stebbins  in  1802,  Caleb  Stebbins, 
Z.  Chapin.    This  is  the  last  house  in  Wilbraham,  on  this  road. 

TiNKHAM  Road 

About  one  mile  south  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  Street,  is  a  road  leading  off  to  the  west,  called  the 
Tinkham  road.  Probably  named  after  the  surveyor  who  laid 
it  out. 

1.  About  fifty  or  seventy  rods  west  of  Main  Street,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  is  the  Adams  cemetery.  Probably  so 
called,  because  of  the  Adams  family,  who  have  lived  at  the 
junction  of  this  road  with  Main  Street  for  more  than  one  hun- 
dred years.  The  first  occupant  of  this  cemetery  was  Elizabeth 
Cockrill  "Wo  Dyed  April  y  26  1741  EAG  39."  The  stone  at 
her  grave  is  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  original  yard,  and 
was  erected  by  her  brother-in-law,  Samuel  Warner  at  whose 
house  she  died.  Just  beyond  the  cemetery,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  road  is  a  cellar  which  marks  the  site  of  a  house  which  was 
burned  about  1870.  A  little  further  west,  is  the  site  of  another 
house  which  belonged  to  Danforth  Knowlton,  who  went  up  into 
the  Adirondacks  as  a  guide  about  1868  and  died  there  in  1898. 
He  inherited  it  from  his  father  Manassah  Knowlton,  who  lived 
there  about  1850-'60.    Former  owner,  Abel  Green. 

2.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  George  D.  Bull, 
who  purchased  it  in  1908  of  Albert  A.  Phelps,  who  built  the 
house  about  1880. 

3.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Albert  A.  Phelps, 
who  built  the  house  about  1865,  and  has  occupied  it  ever  since. 


456  The  History  of  Wilbraham 

4.  A  little  further  west,  on  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Joseph  Meyrick.  Former  owners:  Albert  Hammer, 
Albert  Allen,  who  built  on  land  purchased  of  Loren  Phelps 
about  1870. 

5.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Massachusetts 
Commission  on  Fisheries  and  Game  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Mosher,  Superintendent  of  the  Game  Farm.  Former  owners: 
, ,  Loren  Phelps,  who  lived  here  for  many  years. 

6.  A  little  beyond  the  superintendent's  place,  Tinkham  Road 
crosses  West  Street,  and  passes  the  house  of  Mrs.  O'Learey  at 
what  was  formerly  called  "The  Wesson  Four  Corners."  Theo- 
dore Gebo  carried  on  the  blacksmith  business,  in  a  shop  just 
south  of  this  house  for  several  years,  previous  to  1906. 

7.  On  south  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Edgar  H.  Keith  and 
Charles  E.  Keith.    Former  owners:   Hiram  A.  Keith,  Mary  A. 

Keith,  David  Clark,  Bennett,  Wells  L.  Phelps,  Horace 

Clark,  Harvey  Clark. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  road,  is  the  site  of  a  house  owned  by 
Horace  Clark  previous  to  1842.  There  are  now  no  other  houses 
on  this  road  in  this  town. 

Road  leading  east  from  Main  Street,  starting  opposite  Tink- 
ham Road.    On  "The  Green." 

1.  About  one  hundred  rods  east  of  Main  Street.  On  south 
side  of  road.  House  owned  by  Fred  H.  M.  Spaight  and  built 
about  1901. 

2.  Now  owned  by  John  Anderson.     Built  about  1908. 

3.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  Clarence  P.  Bolles. 
Used  for  a  tenement  and  stands  in  what  was  formerly  "  Meeting 
House  Lane." 

^^4.  On  south  side.  Home  of  Clarence  P.  Bolles.  House  built 
to  replace  one  burned  about  1900.  The  first  minister's  house 
stood  some  ten  or  twelve  rods  northwesterly  of  this  place,  and 
the  first  meetinghouse  was  placed  some  twenty  or  twenty-five 


The  History  of  Wilbraham  457 

rods  southerly  of  this  house.  Former  owners:  D.  Brainard 
Merrick,  PHny  Merrick,  Jr.,  PHny  Merrick,  Rev.  Noah  Merrick 
about  1743.  The  road  formerly  continued  on  easterly  to  the 
Ridge  Road  at  the  top  of  the  mountain,  but  was  discontinued 
about  1850  or  1860. 

The  Stebbins  Road 

This  is  the  most  southerly  road,   running  east  and  west, 
across  the  town. 

1.  About  half  a  mile  west  of  Main  Street.  Place  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Juliette  (Bliss)  Soule.  Former  owners:  Albert  Bliss, 
Milton  Stebbins,  Luther  Stebbins.  About  1850  Milton  Stebbins 
built  a  saw  mill  here,  which  was  used  by  himself  and  Anson 
Soule  until  about  1905,  when  a  portion  of  the  machinery  was 
removed  to  equip  a  portable  saw  mill.  These  are  the  only 
buildings  now  on  this  road  west  of  Main  Street.  A  few  rods 
north  of  the  place  where  this  road  leaves  Main  Street,  the  road 
runs  eastward  up  the  mountain.  About  one-third  of  a  mile 
east  of  Main  Street. 

1.  On  north  side  of  road.  Now  ow^ned  by  John  J.  Lyons. 
Former  owners:  John  Work,  Edward  Bliss,  David  Bliss  (?), 
Philip  Lyons  in  1768.  Just  east  of  the  Lyons  house,  the  road 
formerly  ran  northeasterly  from  this  place  up  to  the  meeting- 
house on  Wigwam  Hill.  This  road  was  "new  laid"  in  1768, 
and  altered  in  1769.  Running  northerly  "Past  Nath.  Bliss's 
Shop — then  north  by  Philip  Lyons  House, — then  about  90 
rods  to  a  staddle  north  of  a  brook — near  20  rods  to  a  tree  at 
northwest  comer  of  Philip  Lyons  fence — then  northeasterly  to 
a  tree  on  a  hill  near  three  rods  south  of  a  Bridge — thence  to  the 
Meeting  House  near  100  rods."  At  the  Lyons  house  the  road 
now  turns  and  runs  southerly  for  about  one-third  of  a  mile. 

2.  On  east  side  of  road.  Now  owned  by  heirs  of  James 
Powers.  Former  owners:  James  Brown,  David  Bliss,  Thomas 
Bliss,  Nathaniel  BHss,  in  1741. 


458 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


3.  On  west  side  of  road.  A  cellar  hole  which  marks  the  site  of 
the  Charles  Foskit  place.  Now  owned  by  Mrs.  Jennie  (Foskit) 
Ray  en.  A  little  south  of  this  place  is  supposed  to  be  the  loca- 
tion of  the  home  of  Samuel  Stebbins  about  1735.  Here  the 
road  turns  again  to  the  east  and  continues  on  to  Hampden  line. 

This  completes  the  list  of  farms  and  homes  in  Wilbraham: 

We  trust  that  these  farms  may  become  more  and  more  pro- 
ductive, and  that  their  "beauty  spots"  may  grow  larger  and 
more  beautiful  as  the  seasons  come  and  pass  away.  And  that 
these  homes  may  continue  to  be  dwelling  places  for  happiness 
and  love,  and  that  the  cheerful  voices  of  the  children  within 
them,  may  serve  to  drive  dull  care  away  as  the  years  roll  along. 


WILLIAM  H.  McGUIRE. 
Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer  since  1908. 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


459 


This  compass  is  now  owned  by  Alonzo  B.  Newell  of  Hampden.  It  is  said  to  be  the 
one  used  by  Lieut.  Roger  Newbury  in  his  survey  of  the  line  between  the  Outward  and 
Inward  Commons,  in  1729. 


,  'MM>}mmM^>    "  ^ 


MEMORIAL  TOWN  HALL. 
As  planned. 


INDEX  OF  HISTORICAL  PART 


Abbott,  Joseph,  deposition  of,  148. 
Academy,  history  of,  220. 
Academy  South  Wilbraham,  294 
Act  of  Incorporation  of  Wilbraham, 

91. 
Adventists,  232. 
Almanac  for  1748,  276. 
Allotment  of  outward  commons,  12. 
Alvord,  Noah,  26. 
Andros,  Sir  Edmund,  7. 
Andre,  Maj.  John,  189. 
Aqueduct  Co.,  218,  assessment  of, 

219. 
Automobiles  in  parade,  332. 
Avery,  Abraham,  his  Presbyterian 

saddle,  324. 
Antiques,  exhibitions  of,  341,  348, 

355. 

Baptists,  in  north  village,  277, 
society  of,  organized,  277,  min- 
ister settled,  278,  meetinghouse 
erected,  278,  in  Monson  and  Wil- 
braham, 202,  in  South  Parish, 
208,  petition  of,  212. 

Baptisms,  twenty-seven  at  one 
service,  170. 

Barker,  Ezra,  called  "Master",  74. 

Barton,  Phebe,  spinster,  148. 

Beaver  Dam,  19. 

Belcher,  Jonathan,  Gov.,  36. 

Bennington  Alarm,  men  who  went, 
139. 

Bernard  Fra.  Gov.,  93. 

Bliss,  Ensign  Abel,  commissioned, 
85,  house  of,  76,  Indian  boy  at,  77. 

Bliss,  Ethelbert,  peach  industry, 
270. 

Bliss,  John,  132,  copy  from  papers 
of,  146. 

Bliss  Aaron,  complaint  against,  146. 

Bounties  to  soldiers,  127,  subscribers 
to,  128,  care  of  families  of,  126. 

Brewer,  Isaac,  48,  for  "Riging  his 
chamber,"  57,  tavern  of,  48,  son 
Charles  baptized,  59,  Inn  of 
Charles,  193. 


Burt,  Dea.  Moses,  27. 

Burying    yards,     fencing    of     158, 

monuments  in,  159. 
Business  of  the  town,  264. 
Business  floats  in  parade,  337. 

Cadwell,  Capt.  Daniel  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  roll  of  his  company,  139. 

Callcins,  Dr.  Marshall,  352. 

California  Adventurers,  301. 

Camp  meeting,  196. 

Cantata,  347. 

Celebration,  history  of,  329,  days 
of.  III  dinner,  340,  newspaper 
accounts  of,  329,  loan  exhibit, 
341,  automobiles  in  parade,  332, 
business  floats  in,  337,  historical 
floats  in,  334. 

Cemetery,  Adams,  158,  Glendale, 
158,  Woodland  Dell,  308. 

Cheese  Factories,  269. 

Churches,  First,  history  of,  from 
1794,  149,  burned,  168,  Method- 
ist, 190,  First  Baptist,  276,  Second 
Baptist,  202,  at  Glendale,  279, 
Grace  Union,  281,  Christian 
Union,  283,  Second  Methodist, 
283,  Church  of  Saint  Cecilia,  284. 

Civil  War,  237,  men  furnished,  239, 
bounties,  241,  return  of  the  flags, 
243,  personal  experiences  in,  245, 
men  in,  251,  men  drafted,  255. 

Clark,  Rev.  Seth,  277,  Mr.,  donor  of 
land  for  schools,  231. 

Clothing,  147. 

Crane  Park,  259. 

Cockril,  widow  Elizabeth,  grave  of, 
30. 

Collins  Mfg.  Co.,  266. 

The  Cutler  Co.,  266. 

Cutler,  Henry,  345. 

Deed  of  part  of  Outward  Commons, 

3. 
Distillery,  414. 
Division  of  the  town,  297. 
Drawing  in  schools,  290. 
"Dreams,"  201,  315. 


46^ 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Early  Emigrants,  1. 

Elegy    on    Timothy    Merrick,    81, 

author  of,  84. 
Elbows  or  Kingstown,  74,  95. 
Ely,  Samuel,  131. 

Floats  in  parade,  330. 

Fragments,  312. 

French  war,  Warner's  Journal  of,  86. 

Farms  and  Homes,  360. 

First  day  of  celebration,  329. 

Game,  19,  game  farm,  398. 
Glendale,   history   of   church,   280, 

incorporation  of,  281,  celebration 

at,  348. 
Glover,  Rev.  Pelatiah,  8. 
Grace  Union  Church,  281. 
Green,  The,  142. 

Hampden,   town   of,   incorporated, 

298. 
Highways,  see  Roads. 
Historical  floats  in  parade,  334. 
Hitchcock,  Nathaniel,  first  settler, 

24,    John,    largest    subscriber   to 

bounty  money,  128. 
Hoe,  The  Old  Broken,  145. 
Holyoke,  John,  13. 
Houses,  finish  and  furniture  of,  31. 

Indian  deed  of  Outward  Commons, 

3. 
Incorporation  of  Wilbraham,  91. 
Indians  in,  20. 
"Inner  Commons,"  17. 
Introduction,  1. 

"Keeping"  Saturday  evening,  66. 

Kilborn's  Bridge,  75. 

Kibbe,    Israel,    Lieut    Gideon,    Dr. 

Gideon,  79. 
Kingstown,  95. 
Knowlton,  Judge,  Marcus  P.,  349. 

Lamb,  Daniel,  63. 
Langdon,  John,  in  Shepards  army, 
135. 


Langdon,  Capt  Paul,  roll  of  com- 
pany, 138. 

"Lexington  Alarm,"  123,  roll  of 
Warriner's  Company,  138. 

Library,  143,  shares  in,  143,  receipts 
for  shares  sold,  144. 

Loan  money,  160. 

Loan  exhibit,  341,  348. 

Ludlow  Mfg.  Associates,  266. 

Lyon,  Marcus,  murder  of,  182,  body 
found,  182,  capture  of  murderers, 
182,  execution  of,  185,  Ballad, 
185. 

Manchonis   Pond,    16,   tragedy  of, 

170,  lease  of,  180. 
Manufactories,  domestic,  264. 
Maps  and  paintings  of  Wilbraham, 

325. 
Memorial  Hall,  298. 
Merrick,  David,  29. 
Merrick,  Dr.  Samuel  F.,  2,  journal 

of,  136. 
Merrick,  Pliny,  Esq.,  190. 

Merrick,  Thomas  2nd,  29,  commis- 
sioned lieutenant,  85. 

Merrick,  Delos  D.,  letters  of,  215. 

Merrick,  Timothy,  bitten  by  rattle- 
snake, 79,  ode  on,  81,  different 
versions  of  ode,  82. 

Merrick,  Rev.  Noah,  a  candidate, 
40,  called  to  settle,  42,  conditions 
of  settlement,  42,  letter  of  accept- 
ance, 43,  ordination  of,  44,  house 
of,  50,  marriage  of,  51,  his  negro, 
61,  trouble  about  salary  and  land, 
62—102,  council,  103,  death,  105, 
character  of,  105,  ancestry  of,  105, 
his  account  book,  106,  monument 
of,  159. 

Merrick,  Mrs.  Abigal,  51,  105. 

Meetinghouse,  47,  materials  for,  54, 
vote  to  build,  history  of  location 
and  erection,  55,  first  use  of,  59, 
unfinished  condition  of,  62,  wor- 
ship in,  65,  view  from,  63,  seating 
of,  67,  removing  of,  to  street,  149, 
bell  on,  157,  end  of,  three  loca- 
tions for,  58,  when  erected,  59. 


Index  of  Historical  Part 


463 


Tvleetings,  where  held  before  build- 
ing meetinghouse,  57. 

Meetinghouse  Lane,  61. 

Merrill,  Rev.  Daniel,  189. 

Methodists,  in  South  Parish,  190, 
history  of  in  North  Parish,  190, 
petition  for  society  of,  193,  reply 
to  by  parishes,  194,  another  peti- 
tion for  society,  197,  incorporated, 

197,  legacy  to,    197,   sold  pews, 

198,  pew  attached,  198,  parson- 
age, 199,  stone  church,  200, 
poem,  historic  church,  200. 

Mills,  Stebbins',  265,  Collins  Mfg. 
Co.,  267. 

The  Cutler  Co.,  266,  Ludlow  Mfg. 
Associates,  266. 

Militia,  212. 

"Minister  Money,"  160. 

Ministry  lots,  8,  where,  and  dis- 
posal of,  71,  set  to  the  town,  71, 
sold,  116. 

Minnechaug,  19. 

Money,  depreciation  of,  125,  anec- 
dote of,  131. 

Monument,  soldiers',  258. 

"Mountains"  or  Outward  Com- 
mons of  Springfield,  8,  division  of, 
13,  names  of  proprietors,  13, 
Indian  name  of,  19,  Indians  in, 
20,  early  settlers  of,  24. 

Music  in  schools,  289. 

Newbury,  Roger,  survey  of,  record 
of,  17,  ditches  of,  18. 

Nine  Mile  Pond,  tragedy  of,  170, 
odes  on,  176,  lease  of  by  the 
town,  180,  efforts  to  increase  the 
fish  supply,  180,  fish  caught  in 
1881,  181,  bungalows  erected,  181. 

"Outward  Commons,"  see  Moun- 
tains, 8. 

"Overplus  land,"  deed  of  to  minis- 
ter, 38,  value  of,  41,  set  to  the 
town,  71. 

Parade,  331. 

Parishes,  107,  North,  history  of, 
149,  South  Parish  set  oflf,  107, 
meetinghouse,  147,  case  of  disci- 
pline, 148. 


Parson's  Rose  (The),  52. 

Peach  industry,  269. 

Peggy's  Dipping  Hole,  32. 

Pepper,  Calvin,  oration  of,  189. 

Pew  doors,  70,  leasing  of  pews,  157, 
sale  of  pews,  198. 

Physicians,  297. 

Preaching,  money  for,  given  by 
Springfield,  36. 

Preaching  in  south  part  refused, 
107. 

Precinct,  petition  for,  33,  incorpora- 
tion of,  36,  first  meeting  of,  37, 
officers  of,  37,  movement  to  be 
made  a  town  by,  60,  89. 

Poor,  disposal  of,  321. 

Population  in  1741,  34,  in  1760,  70. 

Postofifice  and  mail  stages,  368. 

Potashes,  265. 

Pound    built,    47,    on    Springfield 

Street  in  1812,  445. 
Pynchon,  William,  2. 
Pynchon,  Col.  John,  his  lot,  9. 

Railroads,  214,  first  station,  215, 
anecdote  of,  215,  present  station 
established,  430. 

Railway,  electric,  300. 

Rebellion  of  1861,  spirit  of  the 
people,  238,  number  of  men  fur- 
nished, 255,  men  killed  or  died  in, 
255. 

Representatives,  295. 

Revolutionary  war,  116,  appeal  of 
Boston  merchants,  117,  vote  of 
town  upon,  117,  committee  of 
correspondence,  118,  reply  to 
Boston  appeal,  118,  Gage  in 
Boston,  120,  non-consumption 
report,  120,  signers  of  pledge  of, 
121,  "minute  men,"  122,  Lexing- 
ton alarm,  123,  soldiers  in,  138, 
died  or  killed  in,  141,  pensioners, 
142. 

Rindge,  Jane,  diary  of,  318. 

Roads,  31,  by  ministers  garden,  60, 
Meetinghouse  Lane,  61,  Old 
Road,  Worcester  to  Hartford, 
list  of  towns  and  taverns,  273. 

Russell,  town  of,  7. 


464 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Second  day  of  celebration,  342. 

Sessions,  Sumner,  woolen  mill  of, 
264. 

Schools,  appropriations  for,  72, 
schoolhouse,  73,  first  money  by 
town,  94,  school  lot,  98,  districts, 
98,  289,  teachers,  98,  books,  98, 
grammar  schools,  288,  boarding 
around,  287,  money  for,  granted 
by  Springfield  before  incorpora- 
tion, 30,  72,  improvement  of,  291, 
private,  288.  Drawing,  289, 
instruction  in  music,  289,  flags  of, 
289,  table  of  expenses,  290,  gradu- 
ating exercises,  291. 

Shaw,  Capt.  James,  "Bennington 
Alarm,"  roll  of  company,  139. 

Shays,  Daniel,  insurrection  of,  133. 

Sikes  and  Pease,  stages  of,  314. 

Singing,  99. 

Sixteen  acres,  31. 

Slaves,  309. 

Soldiers,  clothing  for,  144,  subscrip- 
tion to  raise  money  for,  128, 
difficulty  of  obtaining,  126,  in  war 
of  1812,  142,  in  Civil  war,  251. 

Song  of  the  Hoe,  145. 

South  Parish,  early  settlers  of,  79, 
set  off,  107,  work  on  meeting- 
house, 147,  set  off  as  a  town,  297, 

Springfield,  when  settled,  3,  extent 
of,  7. 

Stebbins,  Samuel,  27,  Stebbins 
Road,  29,  457. 

Stebbins,  Caleb,  grant  of  land  for 
his  mill,  265. 

Supreme  Court,  suit  in,  about  Loan 
Money,  160. 

Surplus  Revenue,  226. 

Tanneries,  265. 

Tavern,  48,  193. 

Telephone,  301. 

Terry,  Ezekiel,  188. 

Third  day  of  celebration,  348. 

Ticonderoga,  expedition  to,  124. 

Tobacco,  raising  of,  268. 

Tories,  122. 

Torrey,  Nathan,  elegy  on  Timothy 
Merrick,  81. 

Toll  Gate,  318. 


Town  meeting,  first,  96. 

Town  Hall,  298. 

Town  Crier,  Frontispiece. 

Town  Loan,  228. 

"Training  Day,"  213. 

Turnpike,  The  Wilbraham,  319. 

Underground  railroad,  311. 

Valuation,  113,  250,  increase  in,  272. 

War  of  1812,  men  sent  to,  142. 

War,  Civil,  237,  return  of  the  flags, 
243,  personal  experiences  in,  245, 
men  in,  251,  men  drafted,  255. 

Warden,  office  of,  94. 

Warner,  Daniel,  26,  his  daughter 
Comfort,  30. 

Warner,  Samuel,  27,  record  kept  by, 
28,  journal  of,  86,  items  from,  275. 

Warner,  James,  receipts  of,  314, 
"dream"  of,  315,  conductor  of 
stage,  314. 

Warriner,  Nathaniel,  death,  will  of, 
108.  Capt.  James,  disburses 
money  for  building  first  school- 
house,  72,  roll  of  his  company, 
138. 

Washout  at  Eleven  Mile  Brook,  261, 
newspaper  accounts  of,  261. 

Weshaugan,  21. 

Wigwam  Hill,  view  from,  63. 

Wilbraham,  Indian  name  of,  19, 
description  of,  19,  Indians  in,  20, 
early  settlers  of,  24,  petition  for 
incorporation  sent  to  Springfield, 
90,  act  of  incorporation,  91,  name 
of,  93,  additions  to  territory  of, 
95,  population  of,  96,  first  town 
meeting,  96,  refuse  preaching  in 
south  part,  107. 

Wilbraham,  Turnpike,  319,  Wilbra- 
ham Woolen  Co.,  424,  Tories  in, 
122,  attempt  to  make  two  towns 
of,  107,  business  of,  264,  valua- 
tion of  property  in,  113,  increase 
in  valuation,  273,  town  clerks  of, 
296,  representatives  of,  295,  divi- 
sion of,  297,  paintings  of,  325. 

Woodland  Dell  Cemetery,  308. 

World's  End  Brook,  75. 


INDEX  OF 
FARMS    AND    HOMES    OF    WILBRAHAM 


Page 

Page 

A 

Bridge,  William  D., 

444 

Academ}', 

444 

Brodeur,  Frank  A., 

405 

Alden,  Carlos, 

442 

Cyrille, 

405 

Allis  House, 

360 

Brooks,  Joshua  L., 

416 

AUyn,  Ward  A., 

402 

Bruuer,  Mrs.  Laura  and  M 

.  L.,  367 

Anderson,  John, 

456 

Bryant,  Albro  J., 

368 

Angell,  F.  M., 

443 

Bull,  George  D., 

455 

Ash,  Mrs.  Mary, 

441 

Burbank,  Mrs.  Elizabeth, 

448 

Burdon,  Peter, 

406 

B 

Burts,  Lane, 

360 

Babineau,  PhiUp, 

402 

Butler,  William, 

368 

Baldwin,  Joseph,  heirs. 

433 

"        James  K., 

439,  440 

John, 

434 

"         Joseph, 

435 

C 

"          Mrs.  Maria, 

435 

Cady,  Mrs.  George, 

438 

Barcome,  Charles, 

403 

Calkins,  John  A., 

370 

Bates, 

443 

"        James, 

419 

Beebe,  Charles  C, 

450 

George  E., 

451,  454 

"       Evanore  0., 

453 

Charles  M., 

452,  453 

"       Randolph, 

453 

Cemetery,  West  Street, 

403 

Belcher,  J.  M., 

447 

"     East  Wilbraham, 

442 

Bell,  A.  Linden, 

394 

"         Glendale, 

451 

Bennett,  J,  Addison, 

419 

"         Adams, 

455 

"         Leon  J., 

455 

Chandler,  Mrs.  George, 

443 

Benton,  Flavel  D., 

438,  450 

Chapin,  Mrs.  Sarah  W., 

382 

Bishop,  Chauncey, 

416 

Chapin, 

443 

Blanchard,  Mrs.  Elvira, 

450 

Chase,  George  N., 

448 

Bliss,  Walter  M., 

374 

Chilson,  Arthur  A., 

391 

Ethelbert, 

374 

Church,  Congregational, 

361 

"       Henry  M., 

400 

"        Methodist, 

378 

"       Levi  R.,  heirs, 

425 

"        Saint  Cecilia, 

396 

Bodurtha,  F.  A., 

400 

"        Glendale, 

414 

Bolles,  Clarence  P., 

456 

Grace  Union, 

436 

Bosworth,  Mrs.  Luthera  E 

372 

"        Christian  Union, 

442 

Juliette  A., 

446 

Clark,  Edgar  C, 

399 

Boubard,  Alex, 

449 

Clealand,  Andrew, 

443 

Boylan,  A.  L., 

442 

Coe,  Mrs.  Sarah  (Adams), 

372 

Brad  way.  Nelson  I., 

432 

Collins,  W.  L.,  estate, 

433 

Brewer,  E.  Louise,        399, 

399,  401 

Mfg.  Co., 

436,  438 

"       Charles  A., 

449 

Cooley,  Mrs.  James  C, 

399 

466 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Page 

Coote,  Mrs.  Fannie, 

386 

Comstock,  G.  F., 

447 

Consigne, 

443 

Cormack,  Alexander, 

425 

Craig,  John, 

404 

Crane,  Mrs.  Laura, 

396 

Cutler  Co., 

395,  438 

"       H.  Willis, 

435 

D 

Damon,  Dr.  A.  L.,  436 

Day,  Mrs.  Martha  A.,  387 

Day,  Robert  W.,  396 

Dempsey,  Mary,  429 

DriscoU,  Maurice,  429 

Dumane,  John  B.,  404 

Dutille,  Hermenigile,  403 


Eaton,  William  T.,  368 

Delbert  H.,  369 

Ebright,  John  B.,  403 

Eddy,  Dwight  W.,  416 

"      Sophia,  heirs,  450 

Edson,  Mrs.  Leola,  412 

"        H.  I.  and  Clarence,  414 

Elpert,  H.  and  M.,  421 
Ely,  George  W.,                    407,  408 

Evans,  Edward,  450 

F 

Faculty  Street,  381 

Farr,  Albert  L.,  414 

"      James  H.,  414 

"      Luther  L.,  451 

Files,  Gardiner  W.,  399 

Fitzgerald,  William,  403 

Mrs.  Margaret,  438 

Flagg,  Mrs.  Nancy  M.,  384 

Flanigan,  James,  425 

Foskit,  Mrs.  Lucia  S.,  362 

Foster,  William  H.,  445 

Francovitz,  John,  412 

John,  Jr.,  450 


Page 

Friend,  Augustus  F.,  429 

Frost,  George  J.,  429 

Fuller,  Mrs.  Anna,  429 

Frank  A.,  433,  434 

G 

Gates,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  423 

"       E.  O.,  estate,  423 

"       E.  B.,  estate,  436 

Game  Farm,  State,  396,  456 

Gange,  Lexyebert,  406 

Gebo,  Theodore,  384,  386 

"      Mrs.  Edna,  386 

Gillet,  Mrs.  Sarah  B.,  390 

Gleason,  E.  A.,  398 

Godeck, 401 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Sarina  E.,  381 

Goodrich,  WiUiam,  399 

Grange  Hall,  363 

Graves,  Herbert  H.,  416 

Green,  Fred  W.,  361,  380 

Mrs.  Mary  (Howard),      368 

Benj.  F.,  410,  443 

Herbert  F.,  436 

"       Mrs.  Herbert  F.,  439 

Henry  M.,  419,  442 

Mrs.  Henry,  442 

"       Benjamin  B.,  442 

Griswold,  D.  C,  443 

Gurney,  Mrs.  Mary  B.,  362 

Frank  A.,  379 

H 

Hancock,  Jane  E.,  367,  449 

Hardy,  Charles  W.,  402 

Harmony  Grove,  387 

Hitchcock,  Charles  B.,  400 

Hodgkins,  Louise  M.,  382 

Holland,  Seymour,  402 

HoUingsworth,  Amelia  L.,  419 

Hollister,  Mrs.  Julia  F.,  432 

Holman,  Edith  A.,  445 

Home,  C.  Francis,  444 

Hubbard,  Charles  L.,  383 


Index  of  Farms  and  HoxMes  of  Wilbraham 


467 


Page 
Hulmes,  George  W.,  367 

Kurd,  William,  heirs,  386 


Jewell,  Leon  L.,  449 

Johnson,  Josephine  B.,  367 

Jones,  Edmund  W.,  399 

K 

Keefe,  Timothy,  436 

Keith,  Edgar  and  Charles,  456 

Kelly,  John,  estate,  423 

Kelley,  John,  444 

Keyes,  Elias  S.,  367 

Knowlton,  George  E.,  366 

L 

Lane,  Marshall  A.,  428 

Lapine,  Amos,  406 

Charles,  406 

William,  403,  425 

Leach,  Clinton  C,  360 

Leahy,  Michael,  405 

Lemon,  Fred,  455 

Levigne,  Paul  L.,  404 

Library,  429 

Lines,  Thomas,  437 

Liversage,  William  E.,  428 

Lyman,  Edward  N.,  439 

William  H.,  heirs,  449 

Lynch,  Bernard,  429 

Lyons,  Thomas,  410 

John  J.,  457 

M 

Macdowell,  Edward,  404 

MacLain,  James  G.,  388 

Manchonis  Club,  428 

McDonald,  James  P.,  403 

McFarland,  Mrs.  Mary,  404 

McGuire,  William  H.,  387 

Merrick,  Dr.  Samuel  F.,  369 

C.  S.  and  Fannie  M.,    370 

"         Samuel  F.,  heirs,  370 

Fannie  M.,  380 


Page 

Merrill,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  heirs,  392 

Meyrick,  Mrs.  Joseph,  456 

Metcalf,  Mrs.  Edna,  419 

Methodist  Parsonage,  379 

Millard,  Mrs.  Beatrice  L.,  391 

Miller,  Mrs.  Anna,  435 

Miniter,  Mrs.  Edith,  410 

MoUoy,  John,  364 

Monument  Lot,  360 

Moody,  Carrie  A.,  445 

Moore,  Mrs.  Lizzie  G.,  373 

Mary  P.,  428 

Morris,  Robert  O.,  396 

Morgan,  Effie,  408 

W.  Frank,  408 

"        James  S.,  441 

Mowry,  Charles  N.,  381 

William  A.,  394 

"  Mrs.  Emma, 

429,  432,  433,  436 

Munsell,  Mrs.  Martha  C,  362 
Murphy,  Thomas  J.,            393,  428 

N 

Netupski,  Karney,  413 

Newton,  Mrs.  William  A.,  364 

Newton,  Fayette  C,  376 

Nims,  Thomas  H.,  369 

Noble,  Rev.  Charles,  estate.  448 

Northrop,  Mrs.  J.  N.,  424 

O 

Ogilvie,  David,  404 

O'Leary,  Timothy  H.,  heirs,  398 

P 

Parish,  C.  W.,  425 

Parsonage,  Deacon  Warriner,  364 

Parsonage,  Grace  Church,  435 

Patterson,  Mrs.  Edith  (Ely),  407 

Patch,  William  V.,  393 

Pease,  George  W.,  heirs,  370 

"      Jerome,  372 

"      Dr.  James  M.,  401 


468 


The  History  of  Wilbraham 


Page 

Page 

Pease,  Clarence  E., 

401 

Schoolhouse,  District  2, 

405 

"      Gilbert  H., 

402 

3, 

372 

Peck,  Chauncey  E., 

377,  379 

4, 

446 

"     Anna  A., 

445 

5, 

409 

Peggy's  Dipping  Hole  Road,       402 

6, 

441 

Pellerine,  Louis, 

406 

7, 

413 

Perry,  George  F., 

404 

8, 

395 

"      George, 

406 

Seaver,  Allyn  M., 

415 

"      J-  M., 

396,  434 

Sherwin,  Mrs.  James  S., 

399 

"       Mrs.  Inez, 

441 

Smith,  Arthur  F., 

391 

Phelps,  Fred  C., 

419 

" 

441,  443 

Albert  A., 

455 

Soule,  Mrs.  Juliette, 

457 

Phillips,  A.  H., 

376 

Speight,  Mrs.  Addie  S., 

371 

Pickens,  Mrs.  Martha  R., 

372 

Fred  H.  M., 

456 

Poolroom, 

438 

Stacy,  Louis  G., 

409 

Potter,  Charles  S., 

410 

Starr,  J.  Herbert, 

382 

Powers,  Dennis,  heirs. 

395 

Steadman,  W.  H., 

443 

Michael,  estate, 

403 

Stephens,  Edward  M., 

364 

"       John  W., 

425 

Mrs.  Ellen  M., 

387,  446 

John, 

429 

Swain,  John, 

402 

"       James,  heirs. 

457 

Sweeny,  Mrs.  Daniel, 

428 

Principal's  House, 

381 

T 

R 

Thompson,  Mrs.  William, 

368 

Railroad  Station, 

430 

"            Ernest  L., 

430 

Rauh,  Nichols, 

401 

Toll  Gate, 

438 

Rayen,  Mrs.  Jennie  F., 

372,  457 

Torrey,  Albert  W., 

391 

Reader,  John  H., 

391 

Towne,  E., 

403 

Rice,  Lee  W.,                370 

372,  373 

Towne,  Mrs.  F.  A., 

428 

"      Jesse  L., 

373 

Trask,  Robert  P., 

395 

"      J.  Wilbur, 

373 

Tripp,  Lewis  C, 

428 

"       William  A., 

446 

Tupper,  Herbert  E., 

409 

"      George  W., 

446 

Rich  Hall, 
Rindge,  George  L., 

381 
419 

V 

Vinton,  Charles  W., 

441 

Ripley,  Mrs.  Isabel, 

366 

W 

Wade,  Marshall  C, 
Wadsworth,  Fred, 
Wallace,  William  N., 
Wall,  Mrs.  Frances, 

Ritchie,  James, 
Robbins,  Mrs.  Calvin  G., 
Rogers,  William  G., 
Rose,  George  C, 

444 
385 
384 
425 

365,  367 
448 
402 
435 

S 

Warren,  Mrs.  Lizzie, 

430 

Sackett,  Richard  J., 

365 

Warren  &  Bradway, 

439 

Schoolhouse,  District  1, 

400 

Warriner,  A.  L., 

439 

Index  of  Farms  and  Homes  of  Wilbraham 


469 


Page 

Page 

Watering  Tank, 

374 

Whitney,  William, 

411 

Welch,  Mrs.  Rose  M., 

392 

Willis,  Rev.  Josiah  G., 

369 

Robert, 

402 

Wright,  Emily, 

384 

White,  Mrs.  Lena  S., 

400 

Wynn,  Mrs.  Jane, 

446 

Mrs.  S.  P., 

444 

^f0  77 


ACI\/E 

e00K8iN0»NSC0..IN& 

JAN     O     1997 

KX)  CAMBRIDGE  STREET 
CHARlESTOWN,MASS 


